MOTOGP » Rizla Suzuki to run third bike at Motegi

I wish more teams would run a third bike with a guest rider...

Does anyone know if the 'cost per bike' is the same? Or is it more expensive or cheaper overall to run a third bike? With Kawasaki probably doing it next year and suzuki being more regular, perhaps more teams should do it. A bigger grid would be much more exciting. Come back Team Roberts!

Repsol Honda did it a lot back in the day with the 500s didn't they? Okada, Doohan, Criville, and sometimes a young Gibernau? Or am I mistaken?

It would be nice to see the Ilmor effort back on the grid too

Surely Ilmor will never be back??

MotoGP has gone the same way as F1, its just miles too expensive for a private outfit to compete (see Roberts)

Sadly Hologide I think your right.

Guest bikes certainly do add local interest and that helps build the fan base and hence the sport. I believe costs are *high* when compared to my grocery budget, but low compared to increased exposure such an event has in some markets.

Can you imagine Yao Ming riding in China? or Basil Shaaban riding in Dubia? well, if they knew how...

Should have been spies, instead next year the numpty will be riding around on stock fazers in america's excuse for a new superbike series... and all over a few quid when he is already loaded, with the comptitive level in the states dropping dramatically next year we might never hear from him again.

i read somewhere that the team that worked on the Ilmor motogp project has been broken up, so its dead in the water

Ilmors demise
uuuuuu.visordown.com/articles/view/the_ilmor_motogp_project_s_terminal_decline_a_study/670.html

What they should do is run a third bike for the whole season and stick a promising bloke on it, like for instance Spies, or Simoncelli. In an interview Dennig says they need to be more agressive in acquiring riders, like Yamaha, Honda and Ducati do.
I don't understand Suzuki. When Yamaha hired Rossi they knew it would cost them some millions more. But he delivers.
Step up your game Suzuki!