Rumour mill

I'm surprised that Julian hasn't already posted these (or perhaps I
missed it), but here are the latest racing snippets from UK rag MCN:

Vermulen has signed a letter of intent to ride for Suzuki in MotoGP
next year, Toseland is hoping to pick up Vermulen's Ten Kate ride.

Max Biaggi and Carlos Checa have signed for Camel Honda Pons. Alex
Barros doesn't have a ride.

Sete Gibernau to Ducati.

Harald Eckl livid that Kawasaki have signed Randy De Puniet:
"I question why I'm here and why my 30 years of racing experience
mean nothing if ideas are not accepted".

Ruben Xaus will be replaced by Casey Stoner or Roberto Rolfo. Casey
Stoner has been signed by Yamaha for MotoGP in 2006, and now it's just
a question of which team he will ride for - Yamaha have offered
Cecchinello the chance to move his 250 team up to MotoGP, but
Cecchinello will need to find 2 million quid in sponsorship to pay
for it.

Suzuki rejected the chance to sign Max Biaggi.
Doohan says that Rossi would win even on a Suzuki.

Honda will lease engines to Kenny Roberts next year, if he can find the
money to pay for them.

Honda riders had their rev limits cut by 500rpm for the two races
before Philip Island because of reliability worries.

Cheers,

 

If Rossi got on the Suzuki as it is now and was (of course) allowed
to alter the bike settings, but no engineering changes, he would not
win at all, except maybe in the wet. Horsepower isn't everything, but
there is some minimum amount you need and Suzuki doesn't seem to
have it.

 

I agree, the Zuk simply isn't in the league ATM and without drastic
changes even Rossi couldn't bring it home, of course if Suzuki were
prepared to invest and develop the bike ala Rossi then we might see results.

Paul

 

And Movistar is out of MotoGP. Not a rumour, but confirmed. Which means
MotoGP loses one of its most notorious non-tobacco sponsors. They will
concentrate on F1, with Alonso world champ and all...

....p

 

I don't think Doohan meant like 'tomorrow' he would win on it. He meant he
would do the same as he did at Yamaha - who out there thought he would win
on the Yam first time out? Noone.

matty

 

Exactly! I believe this is what Yamaha did. They figured they had
invested so much in Rossi, they might as well go ahead and invest
the money in doing what Rossi and his team say they needed to
make the bike work.