MOTOGP grid 2021..

[chris4652009]

I guess Honda realised they had two dicks in hand.
Bye bye Alex Marquez

[DarthtaterM16]

2020 Season starts at the end of July. Calendar is as follows:

19 July - Spain, Jerez

26 July - Andalusia, Jerez

9 August - Czech Republic, Brno

16 August - Austria, Red Bull Ring

23 August - Styria, Red Bull Ring

13 September - San Marino, Misano

20 September - Emilia Romagna, Misano

27 September - Catalunya, Barcelona

11 October - France, Le Mans

18 October - Aragon, Aragon

25 October - Teruel, Aragon

8 November - Europe, Ricardo Tormo

15 November - Valencia, Ricardo Tormo

There are a few fly aways to hopefully throw into the mix too but I guess we'll find out if they will / can happen in due course.

[the tribester]

Things could be better for Moto2 boss Sito Pons
https://www.crash.net/motogp/gossip/938442/1/motog...

[Turn7]

the tribester said:

Things could be better for Moto2 boss Sito Pons
https://www.crash.net/motogp/gossip/938442/1/motog...

Thast what happens when you get VR to sort your tax return out......

[FourWheelDrift]

the tribester said:

Things could be better for Moto2 boss Sito Pons
https://www.crash.net/motogp/gossip/938442/1/motog...

He needs the same lawyers who Max Biaggi used in 2013, 2015 and 2019 and Valentino Rossi in 2008 and 2015 and Carmelo Ezpeleta and Forward Racing boss Giovanni Cuzari.

They do like a bit of tax evasion in the MotoGP paddock.

[the tribester]

Turn7 said:

Thats what happens when you get VR to sort your tax return out......

I remember gasping when he agreed to pay 35 million Euros in unpaid tax, wondering what they originally wanted, and what his actual earnings were.

[Stuart Fordyce]

DarthtaterM16 said:

Him and Alex probably already knew when Alex signed that this would happen. Pol was probably HRC's target for 2020 all along but couldn't get him away from KTM until '21 so made the deal with Alex to move to Repsol and then ultimately onto LCR on an HRC contract for '21 replacing Crutchlow or Nakagami who were both under contract for 2020.

Happy for Pol if it happens though. He's served his dues at KTM.

Edited by DarthtaterM16 on Friday 5th June 07:40

Cal has been saying "one last season" for a while now and perhaps HRC have taken him at his word. I think he's said he misses his kids a lot going travelling and wants to retire to California. A last 'half season' like this one could suit him down to the ground. I've also seen elsewhere that HRC would only let him sign on next year if he was going to do the Suzuka 8 Hours.

It's a bit of a slap in the face for Alex because even a HRC supported LCR Honda isn't the Repsol bike. However I think Pol would win races on the Honda, which is something nobody bar Marc has done consistently for since Dani's last good season.

[egor110]

Wonder if he'll do a Ben spies and set up a cycling team ?

[DarthtaterM16]

Mike Leitner has basically confirmed that Pol has an offer from HRC.

https://www.motogp.com/en/news/2020/06/16/ktm-conf...

[DarthtaterM16]

KTM and Aprilia currently in a fight to sign Petrucci for 2021.
No word at all on Cal Crutchlow so seems likely he will be frozen out if A Marquez makes his expected move to LCR.

All the teams will be keen to have contracts in place in the next few weeks so we might well have the 2021 grid sorted out before the 2020 season even starts. Madness.

[Stuart Fordyce]

DarthtaterM16 said:

KTM and Aprilia currently in a fight to sign Petrucci for 2021.
No word at all on Cal Crutchlow so seems likely he will be frozen out if A Marquez makes his expected move to LCR.

All the teams will be keen to have contracts in place in the next few weeks so we might well have the 2021 grid sorted out before the 2020 season even starts. Madness.

That would suggest that Dovi has signed on again for Ducati Corse. There's no way you'd go for Petrucci over Dovi as a proven development rider and race winner - which bar one glorious day Petrucci isn't. Noticeable his season fell away when Dovi stopped holding his hand after Mugello. Aprilia in particular having resigned A. Espagaro they could take a punt on someone like Toprak from WSBK. If I was KTM I'd be speaking to Crutchlow before Petrucci given his years of experience on the Honda given the relative inexperience of the rest of their team.

[Ho Lee Kau]

Petrux is just too heavy for MotoGP.

[lazybike]

You'd think any bike that could light its tyres up in any gear at anytime wouldn't notice an extra stone

[DarthtaterM16]

Stuart Fordyce said:

DarthtaterM16 said:

KTM and Aprilia currently in a fight to sign Petrucci for 2021.
No word at all on Cal Crutchlow so seems likely he will be frozen out if A Marquez makes his expected move to LCR.

All the teams will be keen to have contracts in place in the next few weeks so we might well have the 2021 grid sorted out before the 2020 season even starts. Madness.

That would suggest that Dovi has signed on again for Ducati Corse. There's no way you'd go for Petrucci over Dovi as a proven development rider and race winner - which bar one glorious day Petrucci isn't. Noticeable his season fell away when Dovi stopped holding his hand after Mugello. Aprilia in particular having resigned A. Espagaro they could take a punt on someone like Toprak from WSBK. If I was KTM I'd be speaking to Crutchlow before Petrucci given his years of experience on the Honda given the relative inexperience of the rest of their team.

Yes KTM seem to be giving all the news away before it's actually broken and they appear to have given up chasing Dovi.

Maybe Cal's constant retirement/not actually enjoying riding anymore talk is putting Aprilia and KTM off. I like Cal and the fact that he's open about these things but looking at it from an employers perspective wouldn't give much optimism commitment wise.

Going back to Pol at Repsol Honda just briefly, I'm a bit surprised to hear so many people saying it won't happen because Marc won't like it.
It was less than a year ago that we started hearing crazy rumours about Lorenzo ending up at HRC and people were saying exactly the same thing then.

[DarthtaterM16]

A few places this morning are reporting that Petrucci has signed for KTM for ‘21

[Turn7]

I like Petrux but I don’t know if the KTM will suit him...
And he’s then lost the chance to go factory wsbk

[Turn7]

Hmmm

Petrux gets put into Tech3
Oliviera gets works KTM.....

Dovi argueing over cash at Ducati - when he has no other possibilities....

Not sure if Petrux saw that coming >?

[FourWheelDrift]

Turn7 said:

Hmmm

Petrux gets put into Tech3
Oliviera gets works KTM.....

Dovi argueing over cash at Ducati - when he has no other possibilities....

Not sure if Petrux saw that coming >?

Oliviera would be leaving if he got overlooked again I suppose and they want him. Danilo will do better with Herve's team mentality and without the pressure of the factory.

[Turn7]

FourWheelDrift said:

Turn7 said:

Hmmm

Petrux gets put into Tech3
Oliviera gets works KTM.....

Dovi argueing over cash at Ducati - when he has no other possibilities....

Not sure if Petrux saw that coming >?

Oliviera would be leaving if he got overlooked again I suppose and they want him. Danilo will do better with Herve's team mentality and without the pressure of the factory.

I hope you are right.

Just been reading David Emmets piece, and basically, all KTM gp bike are equal anyway....

Also agree about Oliviera..

Also puts Jorge Martin into Pramac with Bagnaia as no room at the inn in the orange squad now....

[2ndclasscitizen]

Was Olivera actually overlooked though? Despite Tech3 pushing KTM to hang to him lots of reports said he wasn't worried/didn't push for the factory seat as he assumed it was just going to Kallio for 2020 and then he'd get a go in 2021. Seems like if that's the case he should be angry at himself not anyone else.