| Author | Message | ||
     Trojan |
We will supposedly know more by this weekend as Spies has said he will reveal his plans this week. He said the same last week, but we heard nothing, so don't bet your house on it  One thing is certain though, AMA is not an option that he is considering. He rejected the WSB BMW offer in oder to stay in MotoGP, which tells me he is going to either take the Ducati Pramac (Junior team) ride alongside Iannone, or the only other ride currently available (ish) and that is the Gresini Honda. Scott Redding has been heavily tipped for the Gresini ride though, and Bautista still has a chance of keeping it, so Bens choices are very limited with Ducati being the only viable option. | ||
| Simond |
Are we any closer to knowing what the "Gresini ride" will be? | ||
| Svh |
I thought last week he said he would reveal his plans this coming weekend at Misano. Either way there is no way he is going back to AMA next year. You don't turn down a winning WSBK ride to go back to a national series whose top tier is starting to struggle mightily with sponsorship dollars. | ||
| Trojan |
Are we any closer to knowing what the "Gresini ride" will be? After all the conjecture and rumours of Gresini splitting with Honda next year, I think it will be the same situation as they run this year. i.e. one factory supplied, customer spec prototype Honda and one Honda based CRT bike (maybe). Jonathan Rea is now being strongly linked to this ride in addition to Scott Redding and Bautista. With Honda obviously trying to find a place for Rea in MotoGP i think they will exert considerable pressure on Gresini, although personally I would prefer to see Redding on the bike instead. Scott is a GP winner (in 125) and has worked his way up the traditional GP greasy pole so deserves a shot on the Honda more than Rea in my opinion. Johnny Rea is good but hasn't shown yet that he is GP material. Maybe this weekend will change that of course. No word on where Bautista may end up, although I did hear he was looking at WSB rides (although there aren't many decent options left there either). | ||
| Jaimec |
Ben doesn't strike me as the kind of guy who'd go back to previously conquered ground. He won the title in AMA Superbike, he won the title in WSBK, he has unfinished business in MotoGP. | ||
| Trojan |
Ben doesn't strike me as the kind of guy who'd go back to previously conquered ground. He certainly gave returning to WSb some very serious thought, even to the point of signing a letter of intent with BMW. To be honest I think that unless he can manage to turn around the Ducati and get some results next year we won't see him in MotoGP after 2013. He certainly hasn't gotmany options open for changing teams nextyear as all the major players are on 2 year contracts, with the exception of Hayden and Crutchlow. | ||
| Jaimec |
There is (supposedly) a factory team returning in 2014, Matt. Don't forget that... though how competitive they'll be right from the start remains to be seen. However, Ben would be their best shot of getting competitive, based on their past history together. | ||
| Bads1 |
For him to stay he'd be on a bike that is a mid pack bike at best. I just find it strange he'd stay to ride something like that. In WSB aren't his options kinda the same as GP..... as in not many??? AMA riders aren't signed. I think Hayes is the only rider that is signed at this moment??? | ||
| Svh |
Hayes is not signed yet. Very few AMA racers are yet which is strange because there are only a few races left. Herrin, May and maybe Young are the only big guns that are signed I believe. | ||
| Trojan |
There is (supposedly) a factory team returning in 2014, Matt. Don't forget that... though how competitive they'll be right from the start remains to be seen. IF Suzuki re-enter (and it still isn't confirmed) I think it will take them a long time to be competitive with the other factories. honda & Yamaha aren't standingstill, and developing their bikes in competiton will ultimatlye be more successful than Trying to develop a new bike out of competition which is how Suzuki are trying to do it. However by the time Suzuki come back there will be a common ECU in place, so everyone will start from zero on that. Unless Spies starts winning, or at least gets some podiums, in the next year I can't see him wanting to stay in MotoGP much longer. His motivation has been seriously lacking this year on a factory bike, so who knows how his head will be half way through a season with Pramac next year on a 'nearly' factory Ducati that will always be a step behind the factory bike. Maybe he is just waiting for Hayden to retire in order to pinch his factoyr contract? WSB has no real opportunities open for this coming season either, so he is pretty much stuck with Pramac or a sabbatical I think. I think Hayes may be looking for a new challenge next year in WSB maybe? If he can get a ride or convince Yamaha USA to run a team for him and Herrin? | ||
| Simond |
In fairness to Spies, a move to WSB would effectively call an end to his time in MotoGP. If he has a deal for 2014 with Suzuki I'm sure they would rather he spent the intervening year on a MotoGP bike. | ||
| Jaimec |
Looks like it is now officially official: http://www.superbikeplanet.com/2012/Sep/120912d.ht m | ||
| Bads1 |
Hayes is signed as is Herrin. They just aren't talking about it. As far as Spies??? Is this the beginning of the end?? Or is Ducati going to actually have a bike for next year that can be ridden and pushed?? | ||
| Trojan |
It's official at last....from MotoGP.com Ducati has announced that it has signed an agreement with American Ben Spies and Italian Andrea Iannone to compete in the 2013 MotoGP™ World Championship. Having already confirmed Nicky Hayden and announced Andrea Dovizioso for the Ducati Team, the Italian manufacturer now reaffirms its confidence in and commitment to the MotoGP World Championship, finalizing its line-up for next season with two riders who are fast and competitive, already protagonists in the MotoGP and Moto2™ World Championships. At the same time, the partnership has been renewed between Ducati and Pramac Racing, which will continue to be entrusted with the management of the satellite team. The two riders, who have a direct link with the company, will be supplied with official equipment. This agreement will enable additional important support in the development of the Desmosedici MotoGP project, offering a further opportunity in the process of improving the performance of the Italian bike. Well he has made his bed now  | ||
| Bads1 |
So lie in it. | ||
| Jaimec |
No word yet on whether Ben signed a one, or a two year deal. I'm betting a one year deal as a holding pattern till Suzuki comes back (if they ever do)... | ||
| Gaesati |
So, what becomes of Barbera next year? | ||
| Simond |
It seems all the works riders are on two year deals with the exception of Nicky Hayden. The satellite rides are all taken except for the Gresini bike. All satellite riders are on one year deals except Bradley Smith. | ||
| Simond |
Actually, while I read that Bradley was contracted until 2014, I'm sure That I remember him signing a two year deal; Moto2 for 2012 and MotoGP for 2013. | ||
| Trojan |
I had read recently that Bradley Smith was given a years extension on his MotoGP contract even before he starts, so effectively has a 2 year stint with Tech 3 MotoGP squad. Cal though has only a one year deal, so it will be interesting to see what happens when Cal finishes ahead of Smith next year (as he surely will until Bradders gets up to speed properly in year two). It is still unlikely that Yamaha will look to replace either Lorenzo or Rossi in the near future, Honda are set to run Marquez/Pedrosa for ever, and the Ducatios look to be signed up for (at least) 2 years between the 4 riders they have now, so for Cal or Bradl etc to get a better ride for 2014 (other than sign yet another one year deal with current teams) isn't going to be easy. Too many good riders and not enough good factory bikes = stagnation  | ||
| Xb1125r |
ha ha, i love it spies on ducati. next year will be his year. people are going to be amazed what he can do with that ducati. he will get more podiums then this year, just watch | ||
| Rocketsprink |
wake up drunk this morning did ya? Spies sucks, and I stand by my words | ||
| Xb1125r |
he does not suck, he sucks on a yamaha. but a ducati is a different animal. Stoner rode that Ducati like Rossi could never. but Spies rides in a way that can take advantage of the Ducati. the Ducati is like a MUstang. Wild but if you tame it, it will perform for you. you all just watch. And Dovi will do what Rossi could not either. | ||
| Jaimec |
I know I shouldn't feed the trolls, but... Spies sucks, eh? The man who beat Mat Mladin three years in a row on the same equipment. The man who, in his first year in WSBK on an unfamiliar machine, with unfamiliar tires on unfamiliar tracks DOMINATED the series and won the title. The ONLY man besides Casey Stoner, Jorge Lorenzo, Dani Pedrosa and Valentino Rossi to win a MotoGP race in the past six years. Right. Crawl back into your cave, please? Let the people who KNOW what they're talking about lead the discussions here. | ||
| Bads1 |
The ONLY man besides Casey Stoner, Jorge Lorenzo, Dani Pedrosa and Valentino Rossi to win a MotoGP race in the past six years. Maybe cause there was only that few riders that were capable anyways. I think Rocco is saying he sucks because of his season this year and he hasn't produced at all. They had high hopes and he hasn't done it. I think Spies is a great rider. Maybe just not a great GP rider. Jaimec don't call people Troll's. Its not like your a pro commentator. No offense but is thread just about you?? | ||
| Vagelis46 |
Spies on a Ducati is really great news ! He is a rider that moves around on the bike..... And after Casey's retirement....Spies is the second best thing ! (Message edited by vagelis46 on September 14, 2012) | ||
| Jaimec |
When I see someone post something monumentally STUPID, I usually try to just ignore it. In this case, I couldn't. You should too. | ||
| Jaimec |
Pedrosa on the pole, with Lorenzo and Crutchlow. What's the forecast for tomorrow in Misano? | ||
| Rocketsprink |
I don't believe I'm a troll. I've been on this site since 2003. Is Spies a great rider? Sure. This year he sucks. He's on one of the best bikes on the grid and can't produce. My definition of sucks. Rossi is a great rider on a 5hitty bike. Ducati sucks. Colin Edwards is a great rider on a 5hitty bike. BMW's bike sucks. Haydens a great rider on a 5hitty bike. Ducati sucks. Stoner and Pedrosa are great riders on a great bike. They don't suck. Lorenzo is on the same bike as Spies. Lorenzo is a great rider on a great bike. And the results prove it. So all things being what they are..........Spies sucks. Hopefully next year proves otherwise. However, he's going to be riding a 5hitty bike. Not looking good. That being said, your opinion is not worth anymore than anyone else so get off your high horse. | ||
| Rocketsprink |
Yeah. I raced,I follow it,I've pitted for race teams so I have NO idea what I'm talking about. Just cause our opinions differ doesn't mean your right and I'm wrong. Or vis-versa. |
