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

Regarding Dani the Angry Midget: when is motorcycle racing going to wake the F up and get a mandatory weight range for bike AND rider? It's preposterous to have no minimum weight for the combination. Nicky Hayden said he didn't feel well all last year as he was doing nothing but training and not eating to keep his weight down to nothing. Its just idiotic.

I saw an interview with Colin Edwards on Speed Channel on Sunday. He said that his Yamaha is " 92% to 95% " of the Fiat Yamaha bikes.

In other words , it's not all that competitive.

I can't see Ben moving to Moto GP for a second-class ride.

Edwards also mentioned that along with no chance for a good factory ride , the fact that Rossi , Stoner , Lorenzo , and Mini-Me are at the top of their game might make Ben think one more year in WSBK is not such a bad idea.

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!

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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

Mark

There was an interesting interview on superbikeplanet.com on 6/23/09 with Kenny Roberts Jr. where he says now a rider has to be 50 kilos to succeed in MotoGP.

"If you're over 140 pounds now, you don't have a chance," Roberts Junior contends. "I think Valentino will be one of the last tall, lanky European riders in MotoGP."

The writer states that Hayden won't reveal how much he weighs now but looks to be about 20 pounds lighter than when he won the AMA title in 2002.

Spies and Edwards will be at Tech 3.

I don't understand why everyone keeps talking about a Spies Toseland swap. If you were Maio would you want James damaged goods Toseland who might or just as well might not excel on the R1 or would you rather pick a proven up and comer who already has come to grips with the R1?? Not to mention the money they will save not paying for JT's sbk pedigree.

If Spies takes the leap it will be Camier and Sykes on Team Italia and Camier will be the #1 rider.

RawDawg: I hate those whiny weaklings (mostly Spaniards)! MotoGP bike has enough power to win with 100kg guys. Look at Irish road racing - average guys, 180cm, 80kg - that's man's racing!

wr86: Toseland wants to be back at Ten Kate's Honda. There are many replacements for Spies' WSBK seat. My hint is Mr. Cal Crutchlow.