Me too. I really do like Cal as a rider. I know the paycheck would secure his future financially at Ducati... but all he'd have to do is get by one more year on a satellite before he'd be on one of the top 2 factories....

Better money, better career, legend. He'll turn into a Marco Melandri if he goes to Duc now.


What do you think Aspar will do with the Yamaha lease and Honda production bike? Those new rules basically end Aprilia in Motogp unless Aprilia steps up to factory status (in order to keep their electronics). And, they could do it too if they got the pneumatic valves going like they're supposedly going to do later this season combined the electronics they're running. Those valves would let them run a few more rpms and get much more power, and Aleix and has said that probably 70% of the success thus far is because of the ECU Aprilia ART developed. If the grand prix comission considered them a new entry - they'd get 9 motors for next season too. Sure, they'd lose the extra fuel, but not having to drop to 5 motors in your first season as a factory is a good deal.

I'm sure that Aspar would switch to Honda (because they get the whole bike) unless Aprilia really stepped up. And if they couldn't get the Honda for some reason, I still think they'll take the Yamaha over the Aprilia with a spec ECU.

It's getting exciting! That much is for sure

 

So it seems like Crutchlow will be at Ducati for the next two years and Pol Espargaro joins Tech 3, according to the BBC...

BBC Sport - MotoGP: Cal Crutchlow leaves Yamaha to sign for Ducati

Official announcement on Friday I think. If this all goes down I'll really be hoping for a Ducati revival. If he manages to put in good results on a Ducati, at least he'll be able to prove everyone wrong that said he shouldn't go there, including myself. Here's hoping he proves me wrong.

 

Man, I don't know. If Burgess/Rossi couldn't get it done, I have my doubts. Even with Audi backing them, it's not as if Ducati has what Yamaha or Honda have. Hopefully, he'll see some success. I'm kind of surprised, I thought Ducati and Cal had a falling out (more or less) last year when the deal went to Dovi instead. But hey, that factory money talks. That would explain his tweets telling his fans to **** off with regards to where he rides next year. I'm not sure of anyone that really supported him moving to Ducati with the current state of things there.

But, all the luck to him. He's going to need it.

 

haha, yeah, I saw those tweets. Thought it was pretty funny but also a little telling.

Now that Cal seems to be sorted, lets see what other domino's fall into place. Hopefully one falls Redding's way.

I used to be a big F1 fan back in the late 80's, early 90's, Senna, Mansell, Prost. I lost interest for a long time once that era ended. That never seems to happen with MotoGP. There's always something interesting going on and exciting new riders to watch.

 

I think if Cal does go to Ducati (a lot of outlets are reporting it now, btw), and if Tech3 really does pick up Pol (which is also being reported), that's it for factory. Everything else should be CRT, and I think most of the good teams (well, really only Aspar) are sorted.

Scott Redding has said though, that he is moving to GP - so I don't know where. Some articles say Duc and Honda want him. But, Spies has a 2 year deal, and I can't find anything on Ianonne... does he have a 2 year deal? Because if he did, that would lock up Pramac.

Bautista at Honda is locked in, obviously Dani and Marc are locked in. LCR really wants to keep Bradl - I doubt they would take Scott Redding over Stefan. Besides, Stefan Bradl has done really well lately. He set poll at Sachsenring and Laguna.

 

I thought it was odd that Redding announced he'd be riding in the MotoGP class but not who with. Just a random thought but I wondered if it was because the MarcVDS team is putting an entry into MotoGP with him as the rider so he can't announce the team until they have made their own announcement? Alternatively, I think Hernandez and Laverty are only one year contracts with PBM. Bird likes British riders so maybe they've made room for Scott there? Interesting to see where he will end up but glad he'll be in the top class for sure.

 

I'm glad he's getting the recognition he deserves, but I thought last year or the year before he was going to be in the middle of the CRT class to top of the CRT class rider when he came up to GP. I thought the fact that he was physically still growing was his only real hindrance in moto2. Clearly, that's not the case. He's 6'! - and still almost a whole race's worth of points ahead in moto2 of Pol!

I'd just hate to see the #2 guy from moto2 go factory (who trashed talked, and didn't measure up = punk) and the guy who edges him out for #1 (who just raced) in moto2 go CRT.

Of course, if Pol pulls him back and wins out the season - I'm more than man enough to say he deserves it. I just hate trash talkers. "He's inconsistent." "He wears tires too quickly." "He's too big." "His bike runs too hot." All while he's trailing behind Scott.



If MarcVDS does go motogp, who do you think they'll go with? I would assume that they'd either lease a Honda, or build a Kalex frame with a Yamaha motor if they planned on being competitive. Man, that takes a lot of money to do that. Honestly, I don't see the point of these CRT bikes. How does anyone afford to race like that? It's not like there is a lot to market on the other side of racing...

 

I have seen Redding's name linked with the Forward racing/Yamaha engine combo for 2014. That could be an interesting combo.

 

Hmm... how much more competitive do you think that the engine leasing from Yamaha and production racers from Honda are going to make the CRT boys? I'm trying to figure how far behind someone using a custom frame with the Yamaha motor is going to be than...say...Tech3? Is it going to be that close? Or is it still going to be similar to this season still? Or is it going to put them behind because they're basically starting from scratch?

 

i am afraid is seems that ducati is a career ending bike ...i just hope he is happy with the money .... shame he,s the best rider we have ...