| Author | Message | ||
     Jaimec |
http://www.motogp.com/en/news/2008/Rossi+contract+ renewal+discussion+progressing+positively | ||
| Azxb9r |
Podium Elf Dominates Racing On Sunday Afternoon Nothing like a home crowd to provide motivation. Great battle between Rossi and Stoner for second though. Also, another good result for Edwards. | ||
| Jaimec |
Spies to race at Donington!! http://tinyurl.com/5gffs5 I'm not expecting miracles. The real test will be Laguna Seca, a track he knows in his sleep. Equally telling will be Indianapolis, a track NO ONE has seen (except Nicky Hayden, that is)... | ||
| Blake |
Go Elbows! http://www.motorcyclenews.com/MCN/sport/sportresul ts/mcn/2008/june/9-15/jun1108-ben-spies-to-ride-ri zla-suzuki-motogp/ | ||
| Trojan |
Latest hot rumour that seems to have more than a hint of truth in it.........Nicky Hayden will replace Melandri at Ducati for 2009. I know this has been mentioned before, but it seems to be a little closer to reality now. Colin Edwards, when questioned about his plans for next year, was asked if he had been approached by Ducati to ride for the MotoGP team or the WSB team, replied that he wasn't interested in going back to WSB and that he thought that the Ducati ride was already a done deal with Hayden. Livio Suppo is now talking openly of getting rid of Melandri if he doesn't improve in the next couple of races. Personally, I think it would be a huge mistake for Hayden to go to Ducati. The bike does not suit his 'back it in' riding style and I think he would struggle to get a grip on the electronics that have not only confounded Capirossi, Melandri, Barros and ELias so far (all GP winners), but made them look decidely average. Spies ride on the Suzuki at Donington is interesting, and I am intrigued as to where he would fit in to the Suzuki team and who he would replace, given that the team have ruled out the third bike option for 2009. Neither Suzuki rider has performed well this year so far, and both are out of contract at the end of 2008 I believe. Suzuki will be desperate to keep Spies but I think he will go to the highest bidder, and the first to offer him a competitive (i.e. factory) ride. He has already said he won't take a pay cut from his AMA level, so this rules out all but the richest of the factory guys. This narrows the field somewhat, as Tech 3 won't be able to afford him and certainly won't have the level of support from Yamaha in 2009 that they have enjoyed this year. Spies riding style would certainly suit the Ducati more than Hayden's, that it for sure. | ||
| Clarkjw |
Hayden is the man. Honda would much rather have a tiny robot (read Pedrosa) ride for it than an active rider like NH. The traction control has 6 settings and he could have it interfere as much or as little as he likes. | ||
| Trojan |
The traction control has 6 settings and he could have it interfere as much or as little as he likes. I'll bet that is what Melandri, Capirossi, Elias, Gibernau, Barros, Guintoli etc. thought. All riders who (with the exception of Guintoli) had run at the front of the pack prior to signing for Ducati, and who were destined for mediocrity since. Hayden would be wise to take note. He is struggling to get to grips with the current Honda electronics package, and that is nowhere near as advanced or as heavily utilised as the Ducati. The current Honda package is competitive for Pedrosa but not for Hayden. Even taking into account their relative body weight, it is still obvious that riding style has a lot to do with it. It is not possible for the riders to 'switch off' the rider aids any more, as the bikes would be unrideable without them, so the riders who can make the best use of them will be the top guys, and they will likely be the smoothest riders as well. Riders that are used to bullying the bike into submission (such as Hayden) will have to change their style too much to be competitive in my opinion. | ||
| Bads1 |
As far as I'm concerned I'd rather see a rider riding the bike then the bike aiding them. | ||
| Trojan |
As far as I'm concerned I'd rather see a rider riding the bike then the bike aiding them. Likewise, but unlikely until they ban electronic aids unfortunately  | ||
| Vagelis46 |
I would say that Ducati is a good option for Hayden. He has nothing to lose. He is doing average on the Honda. Suzuki and Kawasaki are average as well. So his chance for a come back into winning is the Ducati. | ||
| Jaimec |
I think he might do better on a Tech3 Yamaha, especially if Colin jumps ship. The Tech3 Yamahas are currently pretty successful for a "second team" outfit, and both of their riders are former Superbike riders (just like Nicky). | ||
| Blake |
Matt, You seem to think that Spies draws a bigger paycheck than Colin Edwards. How do you arrive at that conclusion? I've never heard word one concerning AMA Superbike rider contract amounts. I've never imagined that they were anywhere near what a top ten MotoGP rider and former WSBK champion earns. | ||
| Trojan |
Hi Blake, I don't know if Spies pay check is bigger than Colin Edwards, but what I do know is that Colin is paid directly by Yamaha and not by Tech 3. This arrangement ends at the end of this season and Tech 3 have already said that unless a major sponsor comes on board they will not be able to pay Colin what he gets now. Tech 3 will also not get the same level of support from Yamaha as they have had this year, which will piss off James Toseland as well I'm sure. Ben Spies is one of the highest paid riders in AMA right now, which means he is one of the highest paid in motorcycle racing, period. That also means he gets paid more than 80% of the MotoGP grid for sure, maybe even more. Many of the riders in Motogp get very little in wages from the teams, but are paid purely by personal sponsorship deals. Unless one of the factory teams offers Spies a ride I can't see a satellite team affording him. He has already said he will not take a pay cut from his present level, which is pretty short sighted if you ask me, and makes me wonder if he has the comitment for MotoGP. Most riders would grab a chance like that with both hands and worry about the money later. Suzuki obviously seems the most likely place for Spies to fit in, but they are keeping their options close to their chests and are not saying who, if anyone, would face the chop next year to make way for Ben. Chris Vermuelen has been linked with a return to WSB with Ducati to replace Bayliss, but then so has Edwards, Hayden, Shane Byrne and a host of others. Capirossi is the best performer for Suzuki this year, but even he has only managed a fifth place at best, so he could also face the axe I suppose. | ||
| Blake |
I'm just wondering where you are getting the information on contract amounts for AMA and MotoGP. I've never ever seen word one on the subject of pay for motorcycle roadracers anywhere; I've not ever gone looking for that information, so am wondering where you find it. | ||
| Blake |
"Ben Spies is one of the highest paid riders in AMA right now, which means he is one of the highest paid in motorcycle racing, period." Where do we find this kind of information? | ||
| Snowscum |
Valentino Rossi for sure will stay at Yamaha and the only thing that matters is his salary, currently he is paid around € 7m per year by Yamaha, Yamaha actually wants him to stay for 2009 badly, but by lowering his salary by just € 5m, but by his straight winning in Shanghai, Le Mans, and Mugello, then Yamaha will have to think it over. Close resource said Rossi wants € 10m per year, Yamaha pays 6 millions and the four millions from the sponsor. http://motogpf1.blogspot.com/2008/06/motogp-where- riders-will-end-in-2009.html I cant find anything either. Who trusts bloggers... | ||
| Trojan |
It has been widely reported in MCN, Racer magazine and other publications regarding Spies wage demands and the salary differential between the top AMA racers and the rest of the world (including WSB and most of the GP paddock). The top AMA Superbike riders are generally accepted to be paid more than any other domestic series, and most of the WSB and MotoGP grid as well. Outside of the top 5 or 6 guys the wage may be considerably less of course, as it is in most championships, but those 5 or 6 are very well paid in comparison to most riders outside the AMA. The huge salary differential has also been commented upon by other Brits racing in the AMA top classes such as Hodgson, Davies and James Ellison. Riders who have raced in WSB and MotoGP so know the current rider value in each class. Hodgson earned more to race for Ducati USA than he ever did even as world champion racing for Ducati in WSB. Ben Spies has been widely quoted that he won't take a drop in pay to race overseas, although I have no idea what his actual salary is from Suzuki/Yoshimura at present. The drop in wages is the main reason why Mladin won't risk moving to MotoGP or WSB, and prefers to stay in AMA until he retires with a big fat pension. | ||
| Rocketsprink |
And the problem with all of this is.....? | ||
| Trojan |
There is no problem at all, except to the AMA riders such as Spies who are trying to match their current salary in MotoGP and are suprised that very few teams can afford him. Talking of AMA, it looks as though Honda have run out of patience with Nicky Hayden's poor form (for whatever reason), and are busily keeping publicly quiet whilst spreading rumours of his demise and replacement next year. Seems Nicky may not be on anyone else's MotoGP shopping list either, so it may herald a return to the AMA for Nicky | ||
| Jaimec |
They are letting Nicky run the pneumatic valve engine this weekend. GO NICKY!! | ||
| Trojan |
Maybe they think they have nothing to lose by letting him ride it. I notice that Dani isn't riding it though. | ||
| Blake |
It sure is strange that there's nothing online about the pay issue. I cannot think of a very good reason why AMA paychecks would be higher than those of WSBK or MotoGP. That makes no sense at all. | ||
| Jaimec |
Dani has no reason to run the pneumatic valve engine. He's been doing just fine with the spring valve engine. Hell, from all appearances, that bike was BUILT for him and no one else. No wonder he's the only one who can get any kind of result out of it. Far cry from the days that Honda built a bike that "anyone could ride and be successful with." Blake: Considering the number of fans that attend AMA SB races vs. the number of fans that attend WSBK and MotoGP I tend to agree with you. With what money are the AMA racers being paid?? | ||
| Bads1 |
endorsments | ||
| Azxb9r |
From what I have heard (I don't recall where) the AMA is funded mostly by the manufacturers (Suzuki, Yamaha, etc.) US based divisions. If riders salaries are paid by the manufacturer, and viewed as "advertising costs", AMA attendance would not matter as long as they are selling enough bikes. | ||
| Blake |
WSBK doesn't have endorsements?  | ||
| Bads1 |
Jaimec wrote, With what money are the AMA racers being paid?? Blake, This is what I responded to. | ||
| Bads1 |
And I'd have to say if Nascar does what they intend and succeed like they did with cars and trucks. Then the AMA riders one day will be even make more.... who knows. | ||
| Jaimec |
The bikes all now have sponsors. But why would the sponsors want to pay big money for an event that plays out in front of nearly empty stadiums? That was MY point. It would be different if the tracks were PACKED like they are for WSBK and MotoGP events, but when you play in front of an empty grandstand if I were a sponsor, I certainly wouldn't be paying top dollar for THAT. | ||
| Blake |
Again, it makes no sense whatsoever that AMA racers are being paid more than WSBK or MotoGP racers. Matt says they are. I'd like to see the source for that information. |
