Grudge match!

[Speeddog]

Bayliss vs. Rossi on WSBK bikes! 
All rumor and speculation, but that would be hot! 

http://www.superbikeplanet.com/2008/Dec/081203b46.htm

[zooom]

I read that before I logged onto DMF and I can't help but think it has the makings of every bit of PR that the WSBK guys need and then some, and in certain ways takes a little bit of PR strength and steam from an already weakening GP field....either way...I'd love to see what the odds makers in Vegas would have to say about that match....

[ducpainter]

I'd pay real money to watch it...

[Spidey]

from an already weakening GP field

Huh?

[zooom]

Huh?

look at the dwindling numbers of riders and machines being put on the GP grid....and look at how the WSBK grid is growing...

[derby]

look at the dwindling numbers of riders and machines being put on the GP grid....and look at how the WSBK grid is growing...

just like f1, motogp grid has always had a limited number of spots...

[gm2]

look at the dwindling numbers of riders and machines being put on the GP grid....

'09: a fifth ducati has been added.  a third kawi is/was a real possibility.  all the other bikes are still there.

the grid is dwindling how?

[zooom]

grid last year was 18 riders generally with 21 total in points standing (due to a wildcard ride here or there by various people)

2007 was 20 of the 27 registered points scorers...

2006 was 20 of the 22 registered points scorers...

2005 was 21 of the 27 registered points scorers...

2004 was 20 of the 29 registered points scorers...

2003 was 22 of the 26 registered points scorers...

and there is 1 less Honda team out on the grid for 2009 as JIR are not fielding a bike at all and Dovi took Hayden's ride...and LCR might not run due to Gresini putting some level of pressure on Honda as wanting to be an exclusive satelite team, or at least I read somewhere of his pressure he is pushing for in regards to support and the level they feel they should be recieving...the way I remember reading it...it could be intepreted...and quite frankly, the money ain't exactly flowing freely like it has in the past...

[gm2]

and there is 1 less Honda team out on the grid for 2009 as JIR are not fielding a bike at all and Dovi took Hayden's ride...and LCR might not run due to Gresini putting some level of pressure on Honda as wanting to be an exclusive satelite team, or at least I read somewhere of his pressure he is pushing for in regards to support and the level they feel they should be recieving...the way I remember reading it...it could be intepreted...and quite frankly, the money ain't exactly flowing freely like it has in the past...

no, it's only that JiR and Scot split.. Scot (Dovi's bike) is back in '09 with Yuki Takahashi.  this is the other gp ride that spies nearly got.

and LCR has already re-signed RDP for '09.

[zooom]

Honda considering 2009 MotoGP cuts
By Matthew Birt
MotoGP
09 December 2008 10:06
Honda has refused to confirm it will maintain its current level of involvement in MotoGP next season after the Japanese factory’s shock move to quit Formula One.
CEO and chairman Takeo Fukui dropped a bombshell last week when he announced Honda would withdraw from F1 because of the impact of the global economic crisis.
And as a result, HRC has confirmed its level of involvement in MotoGP in 2009 is “under consideration.”
HRC currently provides nearly a third of the grid for MotoGP, with the Japanese factory planning to field six of the 19 bikes in 2009.
When asked by MCN if HRC would retain that level of participation, a factory spokesman in Japan said: “We are under consideration, and cannot answer. More than we imagined, the economic crisis has had an influence on what we do.
Therefore, there is an implication for MotoGP as well. The situation is serious.”

[gm2]

Honda F1 quit won't affect MotoGP team
...take your pick.  but that doesn't really address the satellite teams.

regardless, what i said in the last post is accurate.  so far.

[zooom]

  so far.

those are the current key words here....there are a few months where decisions and considerations will be made before the start of the season...

[gm2]

well you were still wrong about the JiR/Scot thing...  

yuki was testing and RDP has a signed contract (after winning the crashiest rider in GP award for the 2nd year in a row... lol).  but if Suzuki can probably pull out of AMA SBK b/c* they need cash to buy back their own stock from GM... anything's possible lately.

* allegedly.  it's a viable reason but we also know that Yosh has never been remotely happy with the DMG format(s).



yeah, so anyway.. rossi vs troy.  yes.   =)

[zooom]

yeah, so anyway.. rossi vs troy.  yes.   =)

so what do the oddsmakers in Vegas say about that match-up?

[gm2]

http://www.crash.net/motorsport/wsbk/news/172703-0/schumi__no_to_wsbk,_yes_to_rossi_match.html