MotoGP 2014 News & Chat

Infoanon

Hi Frostie , any uodates on the rumours that the Marc VDS Honda deal for Scott Redding is all down to finalising the finances and the Gresini/Aprilia deal is close to completion with Bautista and Melandri as riders?

If Gresini does sign up with Aprilia do the PBM slots become worthless ?

Infoanon

Hi Frostie , any uodates on the rumours that the Marc VDS Honda deal for Scott Redding is all down to finalising the finances and the Gresini/Aprilia deal is close to completion with Bautista and Melandri as riders?

If Gresini does sign up with Aprilia do the PBM slots become worthless ?

h3000

Great Moto2 race today.

frostie500

Infoanon wrote: »

Hi Frostie , any uodates on the rumours that the Marc VDS Honda deal for Scott Redding is all down to finalising the finances and the Gresini/Aprilia deal is close to completion with Bautista and Melandri as riders?

If Gresini does sign up with Aprilia do the PBM slots become worthless ?

VDS have most of their budget sorted for the bike but had based that number on getting financial support for tyres and freight. Without that need to find another two million but if they can get Redding and an RCV they'll do that without issues
The PBM slots would probably keep their value regardless because of the travel Monet allowances but I also think that IRTA has already bought them back so that they can auction them off
Gresini and aprilia will be announced at misano and it's looking like bautista and melandri as the two riders. It'll be a very uncompetitive bike though and the slowest on the grid

h3000

Alex Marquez signs a two year deal with Marc VDS Moto2 team.
http://www.motogp.com/en/news/2014/Alex+Marquez+to+move+up+to+Moto2+with+Marc+VDS

Infoanon

h3000 wrote: »

Great Moto2 race today.

Brilliant races all round - Rabat finally wins without a pole start, Lorenzo/Marquez once again putting on a brilliant display and Moto 3 - wow ! Like the good old days.

doublejj

Scotty # wrote: »

No, but...




:D:D

me and wife going to aragon,went last year great gp but as frostie says its a bit remote.we went to jerez in may in my opinion was slighty better than aragon

frostie500

doublejj wrote: »

me and wife going to aragon,went last year great gp but as frostie says its a bit remote.we went to jerez in may in my opinion was slighty better than aragon

Jerez is mega, best European venue of the year, absolutely love it!

EB_2013

frostie500 wrote: »

Gresini and aprilia will be announced at misano and it's looking like bautista and melandri as the two riders. It'll be a very uncompetitive bike though and the slowest on the grid

Does this mean Aprilia will be finishing with Wsbk? The series is already on its knees so I'd be worried if anymore manufacturers withdraw.

It would be nice to see Marco back but after a few years in superbikes and on an uncompetitive package he's going to be battling down the pack.

h3000

Donington Park to host the 2015 British MotoGP

CJhaughey

WSBK was always intended to be a series for the importers and distributors to run street based machinery, the Japanese never wanted it to be a full factory series.
However what Superbike needs is to have all the different series in the UK,(whats left of the AMA) US, and RoW using the same rules.
This would allow wildcards to compete in local races and get the series back to what it was meant to be.
The differentiation between GP and SBK needs to be clearer, because since the move to 4 strokes and latterly 1000cc machines the lines are blurred for casual viewers.
In the past when GP was 2 stroke 500's and SBK was 750 4t the lines were clear.
Now with Open class bikes using modified 1000cc SBK engines on the same grid as 1000cc GP bikes how can a casual fan tell the difference?
Maybe Superbike should go back to 750cc? It would open the doors to a lot more circuits as the extra power is simply too much for many courses example being BSB Brands Hatch Indy circuit.
I think Dorna should differentiate the series more.

frostie500

EB_2013 wrote: »

Does this mean Aprilia will be finishing with Wsbk? The series is already on its knees so I'd be worried if anymore manufacturers withdraw.

It would be nice to see Marco back but after a few years in superbikes and on an uncompetitive package he's going to be battling down the pack.

Tough to say but you'd imagine that their factory involvement would end and they'd support some customer teams. I'll be in here's so should be able to do some snooping!

CJhaughey

They could make another hot machine like the Cube!

CJhaughey

Interesting news about DMG giving up on Superbike racing and it reverting back to AMA/KRAVE for FIM sanctioned events.
If there is any rider that can successfully run a Motorcycle race my money would definately be on Wayne Rainey.
Hopefully this is the start of a rejuvenated US racing series that is properly run and more importantly capable of producing riders that are able to compete on an international basis.
Its looked pretty bleak for US riders lately with the retirement of Edwards, and Spies leaving the injured Hayden to carry the flag.
The other US riders don't seem to have the speed that is required at this level.
To be clear I am referring to GP racing not WSBK which is worse.

frostie500

I talked to Rainey about it in Austin at the start of the year and has got big plans for it.o

CJhaughey

frostie500 wrote: »

I talked to Rainey about it in Austin at the start of the year and has got big plans for it.o

Great, it couldn't have got any lower.
Spill the beans when you can.. enquiring minds want to know.

frostie500

CJhaughey wrote: »

Great, it couldn't have got any lower.
Spill the beans when you can.. enquiring minds want to know.

He's just looking to do what needs to be done to streghten the AMA Superbikes and Supersport classes with a proper TV deal and a legit path to the top for young riders from the dirt trucks upwards. Nothing ground breaking but just back to basics

CJhaughey

So Gresini are going to run Aprilia's, presumably that rules out Redding from Gresini.
That leaves VDS and Aspar as likely contenders to run the Factory RCV assuming they can come up with the money for the bike.

h3000

CJhaughey wrote: »

So Gresini are going to run Aprilia's, presumably that rules out Redding from Gresini.
That leaves VDS and Aspar as likely contenders to run the Factory RCV assuming they can come up with the money for the bike.

Seems like Marc VDS will have Redding on the Factory Honda. Supposed to be a done deal. No official announcement though.

EB_2013

^Great news. On Twitter yesterday it sounded like they hadn't quite raised the funds for the Honda so hopefully they've finally managed.

Looking forward to seeing them in MotoGP especially with that great livery. They seem a real professional run outfit.

CJhaughey

Honda is going to have to help whoever is taking Redding, the alternative is watching him passing Honda riders

Scotty #

Rossi not taking any prisoners so far!!

Grim.

the best performance i've seen from Rossi in years

Scotty #

Yea I think that was Rossi's even if MM stayed upright. Would have been a great battle though.

EB_2013

It's just been announced that Scott Redding will be on board the RC213V with Marc VDS Racing in 2015. They've got a 3 year deal.

Infoanon

EB_2013 wrote: »

It's just been announced that Scott Redding will be on board the RC213V with Marc VDS Racing in 2015. They've got a 3 year deal.

Good news, Scott is a talented rider and the Marc VDS squad should be well funded.

I was starting to wonder if it was going to happen after reading some of Frosties interviews with Scott over the last few days and the mumblings of Aspar running the bike.
Talk of Loris Baz going or not going to Aspar bodes well for an interesting silly season !

h3000

There is a few rumours of Eugene Laverty heading towards Aspar or Pramac too.

CJhaughey

3yr deal for VDS is probably Honda allowing them to spread the cost over a longer period.
Ohlins and Brembo as well not Showa/Nissin so more data available for Redding which should help him a lot.
Satellite Honda's don't come about very often so this is a big opportunity for the VDS team.
It will be very interesting to see how close Crutchlow and Redding are given they are on the same machinery.
Fausto can't be a happy man at the moment.
FIM have also lowered the minimum weight by 2kg and will freeze the factory software from Sept 2015 and concentrate on the Spec (Unified) software instead.

Grim.

Matt Birt reporting Eugene Laverty to Aspar

Eugene Laverty is understood to have clinched a MotoGP move for 2015 with the high profile Aspar Honda squad.

MCN sources understand Laverty has agreed a deal to ride a production RCV1000R next season after Scott Redding ruled himself out of a possible deal to partner Nicky Hayden in 2015.

Redding has signed a dream deal to ride a factory RC213V in the Marc VDS Racing squad he raced for in Moto2 between 2010 and 2013.

Having been informed that Redding was no longer a realistic target, Aspar boss Jorge Martinez is understood to have penned a deal with Irishman Laverty in Misano last weekend.

Laverty, who currently races for the Voltcom Crescent Suzuki squad in World Superbikes, has made it clear he intended to switch to MotoGP next season and has been locked in talks with Aspar, Pramac Ducati and Forward Yamaha.

Laverty has attended the last three MotoGP races to try and nail down a deal. But his preference has always been to jump on a production RCV1000R machine, which will get a major engine upgrade for 2015, including pneumatic valve technology.

Speaking to MCN during the recent British Grand Prix at Silverstone, Laverty said: “I had a really good conversation with Aspar and that is my preferred choice. I didn’t know them until Brno last year and we sat down with Gigi (Dall’Igna) when the plan was to go with them at Aprilia. And then that all fell apart when Aspar decided to go with Honda. But because we had some good chats and Aspar were really interested in me, they are still keen.”

frostie500

Grim. wrote: »

Matt Birt reporting Eugene Laverty to Aspar

It's highly likely that he'll go there, and its where he wants to be, but I don't think its signed yet but hopefully it will be soon. Be grwatbtonsee Eugene get sorted and into GP. He deserves a chance on a good bike to show what he can do

h3000

Looks like Eugene is definitely off to MotoGP anyway, still no official announcement of what team.

http://www.worldsbk.com/en/news/2014/Voltcom+Crescent+Suzuki+wishes+Laverty+well+for+2015

Eugene Laverty: wrote:

“I’d like to thank everyone at Voltcom Crescent Suzuki for all their efforts this season. They’re an incredibly hard working team and we share the same desire to win. We started the year fantastically with a win first time out at Phillip Island, something nobody expected us to do. Even if the results haven't always come our way, I've really enjoyed working with the team and the GSX-R, there is so much potential there. We still have two rounds remaining and my aim is to climb back up on that rostrum before I move to MotoGP in 2015.”

frostie500

h3000 wrote: »

Looks like Eugene is definitely off to MotoGP anyway, still no official announcement of what team.

Great to see him getting his chance at last, great rider who had circumstances working against him for too long. Hopefully he'll be able to make an announcement soon and hopefully it'll help raise the profile of the sport here. Michael's done a great job on a bad bike but he goes unnoticed by many but with a good team Eugene could do really well

Infoanon

Jack Miller confirmed at LCR for 2015 with 3 year Honda contract to boot.

The contract disagreement wuth Marc VDS - valid contract with Miller for Moto 2 in 2015 - has been resolved.

Marc VDS, as announced early this week, shall be running a Factory Honda for Scott Redding in 2015.

CJhaughey

HRC want Miller in MotoGP, LCR didn't choose him.
Funny old political game being played there I think.
Bradl just wasn't good enough, so I guess it remains to be seen if Miller is good enough on the RCV213V-RS to do any good.
HRC have seen a lot of riders and I doubt they would stick someone on there if they didn't think he had potential.
Scary to think that Spain could probably fill the whole grid with riders that would be there or thereabouts Rins, Vinales, Alex Marquez.
You have to hand it to the Spaniards they build the infrastructure and develop a competitive series that feeds directly into GP via CEV.
Other countries often seem to be competing via their passports rather than on talent.
You only have to look at the dearth of good US riders to see what happens when your domestic series is of poor quality.
NZ and Aussies are the same, they have to come to the UK(BSB) or CEV to get any kind of exposure, and even then Superbike is not really a great training ground for future GP riders.

Infoanon

That was an exciting Moto GP race ! How many times did Dani and Marc swap places on the one lap as the rain started to fall?!

Grim.

brilliant race

pablo128

Believe it or not, it was a great race for Rossi after he came off, results wise. His teammate wins, but is still behind him on points i believe, and the 2 Honda's in front of him got minimal points.
I think Marquez got too cocky after Pedrosa came off. He should have come in for wets.

CJhaughey

Suzuki Confirmed A Espargaro and Vinales to ride the GSX-RR for 2015.
No news yet of where E Laverty will be going to from WSBK.

Infoanon

CJhaughey wrote: »

Suzuki Confirmed A Espargaro and Vinales to ride the GSX-RR for 2015.
No news yet of where E Laverty will be going to from WSBK.

Eugene to sign for Aspar, Baz to Forward Yamaha are the latest rumours.

frostie500

Infoanon wrote: »

Eugene to sign for Aspar, Baz to Forward Yamaha are the latest rumours.

Yeah it looks very much like that's how it will fall. Forward are happy to take the Dorna money for Baz and I'd imagine that once that is announced Eugene will follow swiftly. The other main seat available is at Pramac and that's going to Petrucci

CJhaughey

How are Forward going to fit Baz on that bike?
He makes Leon Camier look normal sized, what would he look like next to Dani Pedrosa?

EB_2013

I wonder will Leon even get a ride now, I thought he did a good job filling in for Hayden. If not in MotoGP I hope he ends up back at BSB.

Infoanon

frostie500 wrote: »

Yeah it looks very much like that's how it will fall. Forward are happy to take the Dorna money for Baz and I'd imagine that once that is announced Eugene will follow swiftly. The other main seat available is at Pramac and that's going to Petrucci

Confirmed that Petrucci has signed for Pramac.

CJhaughey

EB_2013 wrote: »

I wonder will Leon even get a ride now, I thought he did a good job filling in for Hayden. If not in MotoGP I hope he ends up back at BSB.

Avintia Ducati and Gresini Aprilia both have seats available I would think if Melandri decides to stay in SBK that Leon Camier may have a chance there.
Thats assuming that Baz will indeed sign for Forward Yamaha.

Infoanon

CJhaughey wrote: »

Avintia Ducati and Gresini Aprilia both have seats available I would think if Melandri decides to stay in SBK that Leon Camier may have a chance there.
Thats assuming that Baz will indeed sign for Forward Yamaha.

Ioda Racing also have a seat available - Leon was due to ride a second bike for them this year. Ioda have confirmed that they will race in 2015.

Melandri is still in the frame for the Gresini Aprilla while Dorna want Baz in Moto GP and will probably placehim at Forward Yamaha.

Infoanon

Eugene Laverty confirmed at Aspar Honda for 2015 !

h3000

Infoanon wrote: »

Eugene Laverty confirmed at Aspar Honda for 2015 !

WoHoo!!!

frostie500

Great news for Eugene, really excited to see him into MotoGP next year and (hopefully) on a decent bike. Having a teammate like Hayden is great as well because it gives him a known yardstick to measure himself against

CJhaughey

Baz confirmed at Forward Racing.

Infoanon

The only seats now remaining to be confirmed are : the Gresini Aprilla, Marco Melandri?, Ioda racing and Avintia Ducatis, Hector Barbara ? And ?