MotoGP 2013 predictions

[rac3r]

Audi tempting Rossi

[ipaul19]

That suzuki looks F*cking hot!

[karoshi]

I'm still thinking that Honda won't want an all Spanish factory rider team, they only need one Spanish rider to keep Repsol happy..

So, Marquez & Bradl at Repsol Honda, Pedrosa on a factory spec Gressini bike with Iannone as team mate on a customer spec bike.

That or a 3 rider Repsol team with Pedrosa, Marquez & Bradl with Iannone & Scott Reading, Thomas Luthi or Mika Kallio coming up to Gressini on customer bikes?

Lorenzo on factory Yamaha again with either Spies or Dovizioso as a team mate with the the other one on a tech3 with Crutchlow

Rossi staying at Ducati but I wonder if they'll take Barbera from Pramac Ducati to replace Hayden? then Hayden, Barbera or Abrams on the Pramac

If Suzuki do come back I reckon they'd try to get Bautista back from LCR, and DePuniet might get the LCR ride back, but I don't think we'll see Suzuki until 2014
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Well, I've wrestled with reality for 35 years, Doctor, and I'm happy to state I finally won out over it. - Elwood P. Dowd

[garth]

Repsol: Marquez, Pedrosa

Yamaha: Lorenzo, Spies/Dovi

LCR: Stefan Bradl

Tech 3: Smith, Spies/Dovi

Ducati: Rossi, Crutchlow

Marc VDS: Scott Redding (Satellite Duke)

Gresini: Bautista (maybe Iannone?)


Most likely.

[chris-red]

[robbieguy2003]

I'd like to see Hayden on the Yamaha you know. I think he'd do ok, I'd say he's riding better now than he ever has and if he was on a good bike he'd be doing pretty well.

I think, if the Ducati is about to turn a corner, that it's quite wrong of them to muck Hayden about, he's a top rider who has put up with a LOT of shit on that bike, he's never uttered a bad word about ducati either. To get turfed out with bad excuses when it's looking like it might come good is a bit of an injustice to be honest.

I think he's going to end up in WSBK, but I feel he's still a little too good for that. However, if he gets the Panigale, he might become the first in the world to have a MotoGP and a WSBK title - no ones done that yet.

Bradley Smith I'm not so sure about, the bike he's on is apparently pretty poor, it's a concoction made up within a small group of engineers within tech 3, they've not had tons of time to build something amazing and they're up against Kalex, Suter and FTR who have more bikes going round, gather more data and focus more or less exclusively on that.

Bradley has beaten his teammate in every single race this year, and most of them are by a significant amount of time, his teammate was the 2009 European Superstock champion, he had competition in the form of Corti and Berger that year as well, so he didn't do bad.

For Bradley to constantly outpace the guy, by large amounts shows he's got something.

The big question for me is how far off is that bike? If he was on the same bike others have would he be outriding his teammate by large amounts week in, week out? Is his teammate just not that good on the bike?

I have to go 50/50, there is a lot of evidence that shows Bradley is making a LOT out of a particularly challenging situation, other parts say he's just doing a bit better than his teammate.

Either way, I'd like to see him either in GP on something reasonable or on a properly sorted Moto2 bike to see what he can do.

The Rossi/Audi thing I've been discussing with a friend. I came to the conclusion that as long as it's cast iron guaranteed that Ducati Corse WILL take the direction that Rossi and Burgess go for, then it's fine, but there cannot be limitations to this, they have to go for it and see if they can get the bike sorted. If not then options are drying up and I'd hate to see Vale doing another year of parade laps.

I think Audi could do worse than clearing the issues at Ducati Corse, so politics aren't an issue, or at least as much an issue as they are now. The direction that Vale and the crew want seems to be the opposite of certain people within Ducati. That needs to stop, as this will be pivotal to Ducati existing in MotoGP. If it doesn't they'll always be a runner up, if they change now, they can take the guidance they'll get from JB - after all, they're paying for it, and then they can move forward with new riders.

They could also help to ensure budget isn't an issue, rumors keep running about that they'd nearly exhausted the whole budget with the big revamp. Further info from Preziosi said they had agreed times and dates with external companies for fabricating and assisting in the design of parts.

If Audi can help either with money to entice more help from the third parties, or find other avenues to speed things up that'd help.

I think they could also assist with engine and electronics - OK they don't do bikes, but the electronics and engine control could be something they'd do that would help.

Honda - Pedrosa is quick, but if they're relying on Pedrosa to beat Lorenzo, then Honda maybe cooking up a VERY potent 1000cc next year. I'd love to see Dani get a title, but I don't think it'll be at all easy for him.
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Current Bikes: Honda CBR 600RR - '07, Suzuki GSX1250 FA ST '11
Old Bikes: Suzuki Intruder 125 LC - '2001, Honda CBR 600F - '92, Honda CBR 600RR - '03

[rac3r]

Apparently Spies will be staying at Yamaha, so I've heard (read). Hayden in a new factory Ducati WSB team would be good
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Bikes : 2006 CBR125R - 2004 Monster 620ie - 2004 ZX-6R B1H - 2005 Monster S2R 800 - 2011 Street Triple - 2009 Streetfighter 1098 - 2014 ZX-6R 636

[chris-red]

[garth]

Dovi has already had a factory ride and proven that he is good, but not quite good enough.

Also, he is quite reserved and isn't going to market that well.

[robbieguy2003]

Pedbot and Marquez have been confirmed for HRC Repsol for 2013/2014 now so those slots are gone...

I'll bet the next announcements are;

Ducati Factory;

> Vale
> Cal

Nicky off to WSBK to race the Panigale is a fairly big hunch

AB Cardion;

> Pull out of Ducati, run a CRT or just pull out

Pramac;

> Gone the company has gone tits, and I doubt the team will get another sponsor. So....

Pramac replaced with Mark VDS from Moto2 - whole team moving lockstock with Scott Redding as the rider for a Satellite Ducati.
____________________
Current Bikes: Honda CBR 600RR - '07, Suzuki GSX1250 FA ST '11
Old Bikes: Suzuki Intruder 125 LC - '2001, Honda CBR 600F - '92, Honda CBR 600RR - '03

[rac3r]

Told you it was an all spanish Respsol Honda!
____________________
Bikes : 2006 CBR125R - 2004 Monster 620ie - 2004 ZX-6R B1H - 2005 Monster S2R 800 - 2011 Street Triple - 2009 Streetfighter 1098 - 2014 ZX-6R 636

[robbieguy2003]

I was surprised that Honda said no to it and have gone back on it, but have clearly caved - and for two years - Dani and Mark are on 2 year deals.
____________________
Current Bikes: Honda CBR 600RR - '07, Suzuki GSX1250 FA ST '11
Old Bikes: Suzuki Intruder 125 LC - '2001, Honda CBR 600F - '92, Honda CBR 600RR - '03

[garth]

It's okay Pedrosa will probably trip over some of his lego and break his collarbone again.

[rac3r]

Spies not confirmed with Yamaha yet......because Rossi has been offered the seat. Apparently from Honda as well

If these upgrades don't work he will go
____________________
Bikes : 2006 CBR125R - 2004 Monster 620ie - 2004 ZX-6R B1H - 2005 Monster S2R 800 - 2011 Street Triple - 2009 Streetfighter 1098 - 2014 ZX-6R 636

[garth]

[robbieguy2003]

I've not heard that he's been offered the seat - as gospel, but it's been inferred by a number of people on twitter.

The whole rumour mill is infact going this way. So far I've heard;

> Vale is going to Yamaha with Marlboro walking from Ducati and becoming the factory team sponsor.

Personally I think this is unlikely - Yamaha get a Title Sponsor and The publicity that goes with Vale, but what does Vale get? With all due respect, and I love Vale, Yamaha made it clear Lorenzo was going to be their number 1 rider, will Vale want to walk back into that? The only benefit he gets is going to the bike that he knows is good and lets him ride how he rides, but is it enough?

> Vale to Honda - either in Gresini or Gresini running two CRTs and Vale having his own team

Nakamoto (Head of HRC for MotoGP) said he'd welcome Valentino into the team, and is happy to give him a factory bike, but obviously not in the repsol team. Interviews on gpone.com confirm this one. If a move were to come about I find this the most likely, but I still see it as very improbable.


This is all just silly season going really silly. Nearly every online article is about where Vale is going to go next, one comment I spotted from someone was the 'where is vale going to go generator'

You do

Vale is going to ride a <factory/satellite/crt> <honda/yamaha/ducati/suzuki/mv augusta/super amazing JB one off prototype> sponsored by <insert big company/italian goverment>

Here's my go - Vale is going to ride a factory honda sponsored by Intel.

See, it's all possible! Everyone is saying at latest, it'll all be done and dusted by Brno, so 26th August - just about a month away.

So, with the rumor mill in mind, my thoughts and opinions are;

80% Sure he'll stay at Ducati - it 'seems' be on the up, and he 'seems' to have the ear of Audi - if those 'seems' are real, then I think he'll stay without doubt.

20% says he'll go to Yamaha/Honda with a weighting towards Honda - I don't think he'll want to go back to Yamaha with Lorenzo as his teammate, knowing they'll treat him as No1. Yamaha would like Vale as a cashcow, and Vale wont get a lot in return.

At Honda, they've Mark and Pedbot to challenge Lorenzo for the title next year. They could do with Vale on a Factory bike, and Vale could do with them if the Ducati stuff is lipservice.

At the end of the day, it's all up in the air, only the riders and teams really know whats going on. Last year, the off season was really hard for me - a LOT of cold turkey, so at the moment, I'm going to carry on watching this season, and hope the seats move in a way that makes next year interesting.
____________________
Current Bikes: Honda CBR 600RR - '07, Suzuki GSX1250 FA ST '11
Old Bikes: Suzuki Intruder 125 LC - '2001, Honda CBR 600F - '92, Honda CBR 600RR - '03

[AL-]

Where is Spies going then?

https://www.superbikeplanet.com/2012/Jul/120724spiesnoy.htm

[garth]

[Al]

But they are only running the BMW Italia (goldbet) team in WSBK next year, Melandri is already signed I think so that only leaves one other ride for Haslam, Fabrizio, Badovini or Spies possibly. A lot of competition for a bike thats not even doing very well.

I think Dovi will be the most likely for the factory Yamaha and probably deserves it on currant form.

Pol Espargaro would be interesting, always been runner up to Honda's golden boy Marquez in the lower classes, Just like Stoner vs. Pedrosa.
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[robbieguy2003]

[Al]

I meant more that BMW Italia is just a satellite team at the moment, although they are set to become the factory one next year.
It seems a real step down for Spies to leave possibly the best factory team in MotoGP to join a lesser championship on what is currently a satellite BMW.

They were saying on Twitter that he could possibly test ride for Suzuki next year as he has strong ties with them and then rejoin motoGP in 2014 with them. But it all seems a bit of a gamble as the Suzuki could be rubbish and they may not be in MotoGP in 2014.
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[rac3r]

So Spies is gone and Italian press are saying Furisawa has been seen developing the GP13.

Cal has also been saying that there will be an announcement on a signing this weekend but not him. Rossi??
____________________
Bikes : 2006 CBR125R - 2004 Monster 620ie - 2004 ZX-6R B1H - 2005 Monster S2R 800 - 2011 Street Triple - 2009 Streetfighter 1098 - 2014 ZX-6R 636

[Al]

Looks like the signing was Hayden at ducati for another year.
A good signing for both parties IMO.

This years yamaha riders at the office skit.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VmFaXR4vqBk&feature=share
Wonder who will be featuring in the 2013 one.
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My Instagram Thingy

[rac3r]

Hayden deserves to stay
____________________
Bikes : 2006 CBR125R - 2004 Monster 620ie - 2004 ZX-6R B1H - 2005 Monster S2R 800 - 2011 Street Triple - 2009 Streetfighter 1098 - 2014 ZX-6R 636

[c-m]

So that leaves 1 seat at Yamaha and 1 seat at Ducati.

Cals future might well be decided by Rossi
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