With most teams already settled there are only a few seats yet to be filled, but the speculation about the final ones is still fascinating.
The first one concerns the long-rumoured 3rd Kawasaki. The rumblings continue over Jorge Aspar Martinez’ MotoGP project, to field a third Kawasaki for the 2009 season. Although the deal for the bike is already done, arguments are still going on between Aspar and Kawasaki over who is to ride for the team.
Martinez has already made clear that his sponsors want to see a Spanish rider on the bike, and he underlined this point again this week in an interview with the Spanish press, saying bluntly “Our sponsor will only accept a non-Spanish rider if they are a proven winner.”
Without sponsors, entry into MotoGP is difficult. “The costs of running in MotoGP are high, ” Martinez said. “Without doubt, we will need Spanish sponsors, and their priority is having a Spanish rider.”
Without Spanish sponsors, the team will need Kawasaki to make a considerable contribution towards funding the team. “If (the rider) is Nakano, the project can still go ahead if Japan can pay around 50%. They insist that they would really like to see him as a rider, and we are insisting that if the rider is to be Nakano, they will have to pay.”
In an effort to change the Japanese factory’s mind, Martinez has been emphasizing the potential of his rider of choice, Alex Debon. Debon has already shown his skills at developing a bike by helping develop this year’s Aprilia RSA 250, and winning two races this year, and Martinez believes Debon can bring a lot to the factory. “One of the things I have tried to convince the Japanese of is that Debon could help them a lot. The other two riders, Marco Melandri and John Hopkins, are very fast, but in terms of providing technical help, they fall a long way short of Debon.”
Though the project still looks certain to go ahead, the argument about the rider for the third Kawasaki ZXRR – and indirectly, about the funding of the project – look set to continue. (courtesy motogpmatters.com)
I find this suggestion as ludicrous as the drafting of the under-performing 36 year old test rider into the 250cc Aprilia team this year to replace Lorenzo. And before anyone contacts me and says, “But he’s done well this year in the championship.” let me remind you that he has no chance of winning the championship in the “works”, factory Aprilia and that he has benefitted in being the only rider on an Aprilia to be using traction control. Despite both of these huge advantages he is still under-performing. A bizarre suggestion in my humble opinion.
The others items concern Colin Edwards and the Alice d’Antin Ducati team. This team has passed up both of their existing riders, Elias back to Gresini and Guintoli to the BSB. Rumours persist that they will be hiring 250 top gun, Mika Kallio and 1000cc WSBK Superstock hot-shot, Niccola Canepa.
Apparently Colin Edwards has had a meeting with team bosses at Yamaha and told that he must lift his game or be “swapped” out to the WSBK with new recruit, Ben Spies, being drafted in in his place. Apparently team bosses are less than impressed that, despite a sparkling start to the season, Edwards’s best finish since he renegotiated his contract for 2009 has been a 7th place. And with his valued connections to Michelin now being taken out of the equation, Yamaha may be looking for a way to get a younger rider in in his place.
As always, watch this space.