| Author | Message | ||
     Diablobrian |
This sucks. according to Roadracingworld.com Sito Pons has announced that his team is out of the 2006 gp season. I hope this does not lock Casey Stoner and Carlos Checca out for the year. I know all the other good factory rides have been snapped up. This could really hurt Stoner's young career. | ||
| Fusa21 |
Diablo, I heard that Camel wanted Max Biaggi back on a Pons Honda in a big way, but Honda (HRC) apparently would not agree to giving a top level RCV to Max. Therefore, Camel backed out, leaving Pons Honda high and dry without enough money to fund the '06 season. It should be an interesting season with one less Honda team gunning for Rossi. And it might actually give Honda a better chance to concentrate on Nicky, who in turn should give Rossi a run for his money. | ||
| Rocketman |
We're dreaming if we think anyone, never mind Nicky, is gonna beat Rossi this coming season, save unforeseen incidents. Rocket | ||
| 99buellx1 |
Stoner is going to ride for LCR being backed by HRC. | ||
| Oldog |
What Rocket said! Rossi is to road racing with Yamaha, What K.Roberts (sr) was to them in the 70s just about unstoppable. Nicky is good but, I have never seen anyone ride like Rossi.... Me I rooting for anyone riding against honda ( nothing against honda mind you )  | ||
| Diablobrian |
I just think it is amazing that camel will not sponsor any team that doesn't have Biaggi. In effect Biaggi torpedoed not only his own career, but this season for Sito pons' team. Not to mention making it hard for two other racers to get rides for this year. If Biaggi could just keep his mouth shut he wouldn't have every factory black-balling him. | ||
| Oldog |
Diablo: Interesting, point. I am lost what is the relationship between Camel and Biaggi, He is talented but a little erratic compared to say hayden or rossi, Biaggi rode ducatti then honda? | ||
| Diablobrian |
Biaggi is a very close friend a Camel owner/CEO or similar office holder. They left GP since no factory would touch Max with a 10 foot pole. And you know that had to hurt turning away the cash Camel brings to the table, but one by one they all did it. The moral of the story...Don't bad mouth Yamaha then Honda when they are your sponsor. Kind of lets the other factories know what they are in for when you have a bad year. | ||
| Oldog |
Any word on weather or not the season will be on the nascar,ahem er "speed" chanel? | ||
| 12r |
2006 is the year of the disappearing MotoGP sponsor - Camel, Gauloises, Movistar. Who's next ? | ||
| Trojan |
It's about time sponsors forgot about the 'old guard' like Biaggi, Checa, etc and concentrated on getting some more young blood into MotoGP. It is a real shame about Stoner possibly losing out on a ride this year, and there are plenty of youngsters out there who could step up and be quick straight away I think (Chaz Davies (250GP), Ben Spies, Jamie Hacking to name but a few). It is just a shame that certain nationalities seem to be invisible to sponsors these days. (Message edited by trojan on January 05, 2006) | ||
| Rocketman |
Biaggi had a very bad year. Big deal. Well it was for him as it turned out, but to dismiss him for whatever 'political' reason is ridiculous. Put it another way. Who is really fast in Moto GP? Melandri has come to form after three seasons. Let's hope he can keep it up in 06. Capirossi is always fast. Gibernau is always fast. Barros never gave up. Won at Estoril and now rumoured to WSB for 06. Edwards has show he can run at the front. Has the speed but not the consistency. As Rossi's team mate, he's never going to be anything better than 2nd place. Nakano is fast but Kawasaki aren't. Roberts was fast once but he's no Mike 'come back' Hailwood. Checa is fast but that's nothing new. Hayden obviously has the talent and is fast but he's not proved he can hold the front. Hey but wasn't he great at Laguna. That for me was the one track that Rossi really couldn't come to terms with in one race weekend, and that's the first time we've seen Rossi struggle at a new to him circuit. Ellison comes through for 06 on the Yamaha. This Yorkshireman is fast. Make no mistake. Riding for WCM then jumping to a factory sponsored Yamaha has to tell us something. Especially when Ducati seemingly had him signed, tested him, then lost him to Yamaha in the space of a week. Rossi. Who's he? That's a list of 9 current racers against Rossi. How many are truly capable, machinery and all, of taking the fight to him? I make it three. Melandri, Capirossi and Gibernau. Capirossi is the obvious outsider which is where I'd put Hayden if I extended the list with one more racer. So why is Biaggi not racing in Moto GP on a competitive machine? This is why 'politics' in racing sucks. You'd think there'd still be a place on the grid for Biaggi and that's why Sito Pons wanted him. Now it seems Biaggi has been in talks with Honda Europe about a possible ride with Ten Kate in WSB and Honda Europe boss Carlo Fiorani was quoted in MCN UK this week as saying "Honda had some relationship problems with Max in Moto GP regarding his performance, but we have nothing against him - it's not Max against Honda.He is not our enemy and he is a very fast rider. We've put in a formal proposal to Winston (Ten Kate's title sponsor) about sponsorship. We would welcome Max to the Winston Ten Kate team - the door is open at Honda". Such statements make we wonder about the traditions of the Japanese as once again they pull the plug on a talented Moto GP rider who one could argue was pushed down the pecking order by one season in favour of Rossi. Ask yourself if Biaggi really has been given the best machinery available on the day? I don't think so. I also believe the politics have favoured Rossi. When Rossi thumped Biaggi? That wouldn't have gone unpunished in F1. Nor would the off track taunting from Rossi that so much put Biaggi off his ride that season. Biaggi did keep his dignity throughout though, never rising to the bait, but it did spoil the racing between the two of them back then. It also cemented Rossi's future favouring him with the media and the fans alike, and that of course knocked Biaggi off course and 'out of bed'. Since then Gibernau was the favoured ride and once again Honda overlooked Biaggi. For me Biaggi is still a truly world class Moto GP rider and it seems ridiculous that he's having to seek a career in WSB. I hope he wins WSB and they beg him back to Moto GP because of it. It's not only Biaggi's loss as it sits right now, but it's our loss too to be deprived of watching such a talent race in the class he so much belongs in, especially so when we consider he really is world championship material. Would you put Biaggi on Edwards Yamaha instead of Edwards? I would, and I'd make damn sure both machines were equal. But now I'm talking stupid - and dreaming. Rocket | ||
| 12r |
Biaggi is a 4-times World Champion and there’s no questioning his ability but he does seem to pull off some err...unusual stunts during the season, most especially his deliberate spoiling of other rider's practice laps. To me he comes across as gifted but somewhat petulant and I think that at a time when everyone in every team has to give 100% just to take the fight to Rossi, Max’s attitude doesn’t do him any favours. Nevertheless the politics must be pretty freakin’ serious for Camel and their reputed million-dollar backing of Biaggi to turn away from MotoGP. If he does go to WSB (today’s rumour has him as team-mate to Troy Corser   ) then I hope he whups them all. | ||
| Bomber |
Sadly, or not, sponsors are not looking ONLY for fast riders -- the teams they sponsor also serve as extensions of their marketing arms, and are expected to act like it Rossi is also a bit loopy (his post-race antics were legend) bit did nothing to discredit his sponsors -- in fact, if anything, his loopiness (contrived or real, no matter) likely served to draw attention to himself, his team, and his sponsors -- positive attention politics is a shame, to be sure, but, given the amount of money involved, not surprising | ||
| Diablobrian |
I don't think anyone said Biaggi lacks talent. He burned his bridges with yamaha by bad mouthing the m1 when he was riding it, said it wasn't competetive with the hondas. This year he burned his bridges with Honda by once again blaming his lack of wins on the Honda not being competetive with the Yamaha. I'm not surprised Kawasaki, Suzuki, and Ducati didn't want to be next in line to be flamed by thier own rider. Camel on the other hand.....friendship is friendship and business is business. I wonder where they will spend their advertising dollars now. They are giving over market share in GP to Fortuna and Marlboro. Galouises was bumped because Rossi decided he didn't want to wear cigarette colors anymore so they could still end up sponsoring another team (maybe Pons Honda next year?) so they may or may not be in the advertising fight. That has to be hard to swallow when GP had record attendance and tv viewing last year. If we could get a little advertising (for the series) and a LIVE feed here they could probably expand market share here in the states as well. The reallity of it all is that a rider has to not only be fast and consistent, but also a good consistent (there's that word again) shill/image for the sponsors that pay his/her wages. Until Max accepts that fact it'll be hard for him to get a ride anywhere, whatever the rumors. | ||
| Moboy516 |
I would still like to see McCoy picked and race on a factory RC211-V. He wasn't competitive with Kawasaki, but I think he could be with a better ride. | ||
| Rocketman |
All this talk (not just here) of Max the bad boy / bad mouther is BS. He spoke out repeatedly about the machinery he was given to race. I don't think I've ever heard of anyone saying Max had a bad day and his riding wasn't up to scratch. Look at the history of the machinery he's ridden, then compare those machines to his comments and I think you'll find his comments 'hold water'. It matters not whether you see it that way or not. The important thing is this. Call him petulant or brilliant. Fast or slow. Biaggi is one of only a handful of Moto GP riders who can genuinely and consistently take on Rossi, and he can beat him too. If Biaggi's plight were known sooner do you think he'd be fighting to save his career, never mind for a ride in WSB. My guess is contracts were already signed with other racers otherwise he'd be somewhere on the Moto GP grid for 06. No team with any sense would turn him down in favour of lesser talent. So what's the point and why should it bother us? Anyone that's capable of taking on Rossi should be doing exactly that - taking on Rossi. Biaggi has proven how capable he his and for him not to be doing so is to deprive us the fans of not seeing the best take on the best. A similar situation occurred in F1 after Senna's death. Mansell and Prost had retired or moved on, and the way was clear for several seasons for Schumacher to dominate. Millions of F1 fans, including me, lost interest in the sport (I was a huge fan all my life), switched off the tv, and like me, never returned. So when I see Schumacher's 6 world titles I am happy knowing that he wouldn't have 6 titles had he faced the competition he should have had. That's why for our sakes Biaggi should still be a Moto GP racer, otherwise Rossi has had another title all but handed to him on a plate. There seems little point in making it any easier for Rossi than it already is. Rocket | ||
| Bomber |
Rocket -- you (and I for that matter) may think it's BS -- sadly, those that write the checks don't seem to agree -- would GP racing be better competition WITH Max ina saddle? of course are sponsor's concerned primarily with the level of competition> I would suspect that they are only concerned with competition secondarily, and only as it enhances their ability to sell their product it's a deal with the devil, for sure, but one that the sport signed as soon as it progressed beyond a couple of guys having a cool one when one sez "I can beat you to the bridge any time!" this situation is one of the reasons I feel that there is better racing to be seen at club meets, and, at the pro level, flat track racing . . . for the same reason that Minor League BAseball is better ball than the majors (often) | ||
| Buelluk |
We don't need Biaggi to act petulant anymore , we still have Sete riding in MotoGP...glad to see the Rossi curse worked. Stoner definitely has a ride with LCR , his fourth year with the team ,they will have a works supplied RCV. I am looking forward to Vale's last year in MotoGP, although it is now difficult to see if he will go to Ferrari in 2007 as the Alonso move seems to put Raikonnen in position for the spot next to Schumi ..if he stays of course. | ||
| 12r |
I can't see how anyone can believe that Max Biaggi is a much-maligned, misunderstood racing genius who's been denied a factory ride soley by corporate bean counters. Part of the blame must lie with Max, and his words and actions in the MotoGP circus speak for themselves. To be successful at this level of racing requires consistency and adaptability. Rossi is as consistent as night-and-day and adapts his style to suit the conditions and whatever machine he's riding. Max has a style firmly rooted in his 250 days and sometimes this works,sometimes it doesn't. Now Hayden may not be as good a rider as Biaggi but Nicky (or his manager) is clever enough to play the game and that's why the RC211V was/is being developed to suit Hayden first and foremost and part of Max's remit in 2005 was to show he could adapt accordingly. Not even Honda has the resources to develop a MotoGP bike along diverging paths. The fact that Max failed to make any impression on what is widely regarded as the most rider-friendly bike in the series was bad enough, but to complain about the lack of development to suit his own style must have been an affront to his Japanese bosses. Having done the same thing at Yamaha, it isn't difficult to see why the other teams were not interested in taking him on board in 2006, even with a million-dollar sponsor. He might be the best rider in the world but nobody likes a whinging git. He's undeniably talented, but a challenger to Rossi ? Nah. For sure, MotoGP will be poorer without him but if Max had played a different tune in 2005 he would have been on the grid this year. | ||
| Rocketman |
12r, your words for Biaggi seem somewhat contradictory but it's great to see your side of the argument. You're certainly not alone. Perhaps even with the majority, and I understand it too, but I think Biaggi might have been telling us some truths when he claimed Honda were favouring RCV development toward Gibernau when it should have according to contract been Biaggi's play. When Biaggi rode the M1 it was nothing like the M1 Rossi had made. That's common knowledge. But hell what do I know other than what I read or see \ hear on tv. I can't go around defending Biaggi but I do know one thing......................... Has anyone seen the line-up for WSB this season? If Biaggi joins WSB, which is looking like a motorcycle racers 'who's who', that's where the top action is gonna be. You know the WSB boys are upto Moto GP speed in testing this winter. Bring it on and bring on the Roman Emperor. Rocket | ||
| Rocketman |
Bomber, with regard to sponsorship, you and others might find this interesting. EVERYONE WITH AN INTEREST IN MOTO GP SHOULD READ THIS. The article was written in November 05 but it does in my opinion offer a perhaps curious insight into the Biaggi / Pons affair given the Spanish connection. I wonder what they know and we're not being told. Rocket | ||
| Rocketman |
Here's another link with a little mention of CVC / Dorna's other investments. Don't read the last paragraph if you over spent at christmas LOL Rocket | ||
| Rocketman |
Sorry, I lost that one. Rocket (Message edited by rocketman on January 05, 2006) | ||
| Bomber |
Rocket -- thanks for the links -- interesting reading, for sure -- kinda interesting when the politics behind the scenes dominate the racing, innit? sad, but interesting -- it's one of the reasons, perhaps the major one, that I no longer find F1 racing engaging ( I know full well that millions of others find the F1 circus very interesting, and that I'm in a definate minority) -- sadly, GP could go the same route that's why I find watch Scott Parker, Springsteen, et al, freight-training down the straight at Springfield so much more enjoyable | ||
| 12r |
Breaking news - Camel are sponsoring the Yamaha Factory MotoGP Team (Rossi & Edwards) in 2006. So much for Gauloises claims that Yamaha couldn't use a different tobacco sponsor this year and Valentino's anti-cigarette stance but hey yellow does seem to be his favourite colour  . Testing kicks off in Sepang on the 23rd ! | ||
| Davegess |
Another stake in Max Biaggi’s heart. Camel has signed to sponsor Rossi and Edwards. I think Max is a great rider but his head gets in his way. Pretty much everyone in the pits can play head games with him but no one gets under his skin quite as much as Rossi. He has to be feeling totally betrayed by this. Unfortunately while this would spur many riders to great heights just to pay the bastards back Max seems to get tight and try too hard. He rides beyond himself and makes more mistakes. If he is in control he is great but it is easy to upset his ego and get him out of control. He lets things off the race track get to him. If Mas can get a Superbike ride we will see if he can get his head down and respond. | ||
| 12r |
Yes - Max must be sticking pins in that voodoo Rossi doll right now But what an about-face by Camel ! Last week they were withdrawing from MotoGP because of the 'lack of sportsmanship' and now they're back - with Yamaha ! Sometimes the wheeling and dealing is more interesting than the racing... I understand that the 990s are far more expensive to run than the 500cc 2-strokes but the sponsorship levels have remained pretty much static. What was a great deal for a 500 team is small beans for a 990 to the extent that some manufacturers (the big H and Yamaha) can now decide who rides for them - not the sponsor. Unfortunately this is what's happened to Max - the reputed $15 million from Camel is not enough when it costs Honda $50 million for one season. |
