Honda pulls out of F1, now USA roadracing.... MotoGP next?

[Speeddog]

I'll bet Pedrobot and Dovi have got their contracts under the magnifying glass to see if the rug can get pulled out from under them...

Honda USA Roadracing announcement:
http://roadracingworld.com/news/article/?article=35171

[gm2]

that's a bummer.  really too bad we won't get to see bboz ride against hodgson.  guess this is one way to make duhamel retire tho.. 

i'm sure that honda knows that if they pulled the plug on repsol a few hundred thousand spaniards would burn them down.

wonder when the suzi announcement will come.

[mitt]

Several teams are done in F1 - there is a thread a couple down talking about it.  Spec engines and gearboxes for 2010.

mitt

[Speeddog]

Ironic, dated 12/4/08:
http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/72343

"The decision to pull out of F1 does not affect the other forms of motorsport Honda are involved in," Ormond told autosport.com.

[gm2]

Ironic, dated 12/4/08:
http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/72343

"The decision to pull out of F1 does not affect the other forms of motorsport Honda are involved in," Ormond told autosport.com.

there's american honda and then there's honda...


also looks like Ducati is out of BSB
http://www.motorcyclenews.com/MCN/sport/sportresults/mcn/2008/December/15-21/dec1608-no-ducati-in-bsb-2009/?&R=EPI-104902

[Drunken Monkey]

More speculation here:

http://www.motogpmatters.com/news/2008/12/16/honda_could_announce_motogp_withdrawal_o.html

[gm2]

for them to kill 1/3 of the GP grid seems... highly unlikely.  esp considering this just came out: http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/72493

but who knows.  we shall see. 

[Spidey]

Mebbe the global economic crisis will cause them to reconsider all their options, including whether that f'n midget should be allowed to grace my television screen. 

[gm2]

bravo nicky!!   

[Spidey]

bravo nicky!!   

  If the midget loses his ride and Nicky's safe n' sound on a Duc, I'm gonna laugh my ass off. 

[gm2]

Mebbe the global economic crisis will cause them to reconsider all their options, including whether that f'n midget should be allowed to grace my television screen. 

it made sense for them to pull out of AMA and F1.  motogp is another matter.  but then again, with major things a'shift across the globe...

wouldn't it be effin crazy next year then?  gp would be like pre-DMG AMA: 2 series happening at once on the track.  yamaha vs. ducati and... everyone else (kawi vs. suzi).  man that would suck.

[Jester]

yamaha vs. ducati

lol more like Rossi/Lorenzo v. Stoner and then everyone else.  I don't care what Hayden's style is... until I see anyone do anything on that Ducati other than place at the back of the grid, Stoner is still the only one that can ride it.  How much of a snoozer would that season be.

What's the speculation on Jorge taking number 99 next year?  Only "1" away from the championship plate?  Pedrobot has relegated himself from 2 to 3!  Go back to 26 imo.

[Spidey]

What's the speculation on Jorge taking number 99 next year? 

Wasn't there a vote as to what number he should run?  Did I read that on the DMF or somewhere else?

Edit:  I guess it was here.  http://ducatimonsterforum.org/index.php?topic=15901.msg288541#msg288541

[GregP]

  If the midget loses his ride and Nicky's safe n' sound on a Duc, I'm gonna laugh my ass off. 

+1

So if there aren't enouhg teams/bikes on the grid it is not "MotoGP" world championship racing?  Kinda like the Suzuki Cup Championship at Road Atlanta?

[zooom]

So if there aren't enouhg teams/bikes on the grid it is not "MotoGP" world championship racing?  Kinda like the Suzuki Cup Championship at Road Atlanta?

EXACTLY....

"....If Honda did pull out of MotoGP, it would have a devastating effect on the series. Honda currently provides 6 of the 19 bikes on the grid, and with FIM rules requiring a minimum of 15 entries for a world championship series, the prospects of the 2009 MotoGP season being run as a cup, with no world title at stake...."

I also think that if this happened...Rossi would be bored and seriously think about pulling up stakes and going to another more stable type of racing or product for 2010, as would a few other riders making WSBK field of riders even more interesting looking!