BSB Movers and Shakers (Rumors)..

After seeing alot of rumors floating about i thought i'd start a silly season thread, bit late but hey... Majority of these are taken from Crash.net The Sun of the motorsport world, lol..

Cal Crutchlow is heading to WSS with Yamaha for '09.
Leon Haslam is going to Stiggy M/sports ???
Shane Bryne to Sterilgarda Ducati ?????
Tom Sykes to Yamaha Italia, we already knew that...
Guy Martin is going to Rob Mac Yamaha.
Chris Walker maybe heading back to BSB ????

Anyone got anything else to throw in??!!

Originally Posted by Pete_58

Chris Walker maybe heading back to BSB ????

Paul Bird has been offered a deal to run in BSB with Ducati's again, it is this deal that is making him contemplate coming back from WSB. Walker is currently riding for Paul Bird on the Honda.

Ahh, all becomes clear now. He did say he had a few offers during the WSB coverage on sunday when he spoke to Jamie Whitham. Would probably be a good thing, IMHO, he hasnt done that well in WSB and the GSE team have switched so... Next year looks set to be a good one BSB wise!!

Shane Byrne says he is going to WSB but no clue as to who with. Also, rather random IMO, Yamaha are said to be asking Colin Edwards to consider a move back to WSB!!??

I'm not going to join Rob Mac Yamaha as chief mechanic... just thought you ought to know that.

Shakey is going to Sterilgarda and there is a possibility of Edwards returning to WSB with Yamaha alongside Sykes, I think it would be a good move for Edwards.

[Supervox]

Further to the above, Eurosport are reporting today :-

That Shakey Byrne has signed to ride for Sterilgarda Ducati in WSB

That Ben Spies has signed with Yamaha to partner Tom Sykes in WSB

That Sylvain Guintoli is expected to sign for Rizla Suzuki to ride in BSB having been dropped by the Alice Ducati MotoGP team for next season.

Cal Cruthlow has signed with Yamaha to ride in WSS

Leon 'Le Monobrow' Haslam is close to signing with Stiggy Honda to ride in WSB

BSB title could be an open fight in '09 then! Cant wait!! WSB should make for some very good racing aswell.

HM PLant Honda are in BSB for 09 but have no riders as yet....Hodgson is my no1 tip for the no 1 ride, the 2nd bike.....c,mon supervox, tell me, who?

i like the guintoli to rizla suzuki, much more likely than Mladin who is far too set in his ways to bother with a few limeys on new tracks in freezing Scotland.....im assuming Atsu will be back to Japan so again, who else?

Spies has got the Yamaha WSB ride, which i must say is diabolical business by Suzuki...theyve had so long to find him a ride at world level and messed it up , so whos on the moto gp bikes next year, not Capirex again ??? Why do these teams persist in giving the best rides to the over the hill 35+ yr olds (Nakano, Barros before he finally went) and yet let the best prospects go to rival manufacturers...???? they should have had Spies on the GP bike 2 yrs ago.....maybe its the Japs, too conservative, serves them right that Ducati won it last year with a young gun....

PS as for AMA - serves em right the mess theyre in, how long has DuHamel ridden for Honda? the best 6/7 rides are passed between the same riders, and it took Spies SO LONG to get on a SBK...

[Supervox]

Originally Posted by pete m

HM PLant Honda are in BSB for 09 but have no riders as yet....Hodgson is my no1 tip for the no 1 ride, the 2nd bike.....c,mon supervox, tell me, who?

i like the guintoli to rizla suzuki, much more likely than Mladin who is far too set in his ways to bother with a few limeys on new tracks in freezing Scotland.....im assuming Atsu will be back to Japan so again, who else?

Spies has got the Yamaha WSB ride, which i must say is diabolical business by Suzuki...theyve had so long to find him a ride at world level and messed it up , so whos on the moto gp bikes next year, not Capirex again ??? Why do these teams persist in giving the best rides to the over the hill 35+ yr olds (Nakano, Barros before he finally went) and yet let the best prospects go to rival manufacturers...???? they should have had Spies on the GP bike 2 yrs ago.....maybe its the Japs, too conservative, serves them right that Ducati won it last year with a young gun....

PS as for AMA - serves em right the mess theyre in, how long has DuHamel ridden for Honda? the best 6/7 rides are passed between the same riders, and it took Spies SO LONG to get on a SBK...

Hmmm, without knowing exactly who already have contracts in place for next year it's hard to say, but - I wouldn't be at all surprised to see either one of the Supersport guys move up to the big class - Hudson Kennaugh, Ian Lowry or James Westmoreland perhaps ? I'd really like to see what Rob Frost could do with a full-on package behind him after struggling using his own money for so long - although his well known temper might go against him !! The other possibility is HM Plant to 'poach' from one of the other teams either sponsored or privateer - the guys I'd be looking at would include Karl Harris; John / Michael Laverty; Guy Martin; Steve Plater & Tristan Palmer.

Whilst I'd like to see Hodgson race again in BSB (especially if Chris Walker returns as well) is it likely ?

As for Matt Mladin - I've never understood how someone who is as good as he is never wanted to go to WSB but chose to remain as 'The Big Man' in AMA Superbike - I can only assume that money & prestige were his main ambitions. I can't really respect the guy as a racer despite his record number of victories because of this

Spies - well, I agree I think Suzuki have shot themselves in the foot big-time by letting him go - only time will tell I suppose.