WSBK » Spies: I know what I want to do next year

The financial climate is on over-riding factor in all this. With Advertising budget cuts so go race team budget cuts. That said, the riders with the best backing are the ones that will be moving up in the hierarchy. Case in point, Talmasci moving into MotoGP. The guy has no place there but he is there because he had a huge backer! So Takahashi is on the street after Laguna! So what I'm saying is that the teams have to be mindful of giving the sponsors their bang for the buck. That means having a rider that can A) get their logos in front of the cameras and B) Win races or at least run up front where the cameras are! The less popular support the harder it will be to get a ride in the bigs!

WSBK » Spies: I know what I want to do next year

Spies is going to sign with Ferrari F1 for next year since Rossi cant seem to make up his mind.

WSBK » Spies: I know what I want to do next year

Now if I were to guess at who was headed where. Spies-Tech3 (with Houseworth and woody in tow!) Bautista-Tech3 or possibly Suzuki Melandri- Suzuki or possibly Gresini Honda Toseland-Ten Kate WSBK Edwards-Aprilia WSBK Hayden-Pramac or Suzuki with a long shot @ tech3 Elias- Moto2 Oyama-Scot or Pramac Takahashi-Moto2 Capirossi-Suzuki WSBK Vermeulen-If he goes, likely to stay in MotoGP on a satellite Honda or perhaps back to WSBK. Cal Crutchlow-Spies vacated seat at Yamaha WSBk

WSBK » Spies: I know what I want to do next year

This silly season promises to be the most entertaining ever! Spies and Bautista are the headliners, and all else will hinge on the decisions these two make! They will both wind up in MotoGP for 2010!!! That leaves the rest to battle over what is left. I would guess that the seats at Suzuki and Tech 3 are all very hot right now! Meaning those riders will likely try to step it up in a vain effort to save there rides for the remainder of the season. Probable movers IMHO are Melandri, Edwards, Toseland, Capirossi, Vermeulen, Hayden,Elias and possibly even Oyama. Hayate may even disappear for 2010 as they are only here to fulfill a legal obligation to Dorna at this point.Going to be fun to watch!

WSBK » Ducati: Haga could race at Brno

With a fractured Ulna, Haga will realistically be hard pressed to Hang onto a Superbike at anything even approaching race pace or distance. Could he compete with the miracle of modern medicine? Perhaps, but the risk of further damaging the fracture could likely be career ending. That would be a shame because I think the guy truly deserves to win a title someday. On one hand you might be inclined to rest and regroup for next season and on the other you come to the realization that this might be the last real shot at the title. If Ben goes to MotoGP he will still have to contend with young guys like Fabrizio, Haslam and Rea who are all on the ascendancy. No rest at the Top. Heal fast Haga San!

MOTOGP » Hayden enjoys hard battle despite loose handlebar

Nicky needs to follow Marco Melandri's lead and get on another bike before that Ducati kills (literally) him! How can Ducati make a Superbike(1198) that is seemingly so easy to come to grips with that every person in WSBK riding one is competitive (aside from the displacement advantage mind you) almost every race. Yet at the same time they cannot seem to produce a MotoGP package that anyone but Casey can ride consistently? I could see Nicky on a Suzuki or satellite Yamaha going really well! I Read on Superbikeplanet recently about KRJR and he said he got out of MotoGP because he was just too big for the 800!!! He even mentions Nicky. Perhaps he's just too skinny to race competitively now

WSBK » Spies: I can smell the lead now

Does anyone know how much Spies is making these days? His salary in the US was so big that it caused a lot of teams to shy away from him last year. Mladin was making even more than Spies! He was even rumored to have taken a pay cut to go to Yamaha WSBK. Whatever the number was that Spies was asking for at that time, that number goes up big time with the year he has had!

WSBK » Spies: I can smell the lead now

After this year Spies will have "EXPERIENCE" on practically all of the tracks the MotoGP guys run on. Lets take a quick look at what he has done on the 2 tracks he actually had experience on this year... Complete Anhilitation over guys who have raced there for years! If you are vain enough to believe that this kid wont be competitive in MotoGP you need to snap to, before you wet the bed! The one clear message he has sent to every team owner in the world is that he can adapt rapidly to a new bike, team, tires and tracks at the drop of a hat, and be the fastest guy at nearly every freaking one of them! That kids, is lightning in a bottle and all of them want it, price no object!

WSBK » Spies: I can smell the lead now

I have to say that although I always thought there was an inevitability to Spies overtaking Haga in the championship, I am certain that he (nor I) would want to have it happen under these circumstances. I wanted to see Haga and Spies battling to the wire. Alas it looks like it might be over before it gets to that. Without Haga in the series it just wont be the same. I have read his rehab may take 1-3 months. Damn shame.

WSBK » UPDATE: Haga injuries downgraded

Oh man this is good news. Heres to a quick recovery Haga San!