WSBK » Meregalli eyeing satellite Yamaha support

More Yamaha's on the grid please! Hopefully we can have a new team or 2 on the grid as well not just current teams switching to Yamaha bikes.

Maybe this is the ideal oppurtunity for GSE to step up into WSBK?

Being a Shakey fan I was hoping they would do it for 2009, using the Ducati's but that didn't happen unfortunately.

I think it would be good for GSE and WSBK if GSE stepped up running a satellite Yamaha team, but would Massimo agree with this, given how competitive GSE would probably be?

GSE going to WSBK would make no business sense for Yamaha. They wouldn't be able to match the Italia bikes, especially if Spies stays on, and would greatly reduce their chances of winning the BSB title. Rob Mac's team have been nowhere near getting the best out of the bikes (or their riders).

It's a shame there are so few Yamahs in WSBK. PSG might be a good option if they can get the finances together, or perhaps Guandolini? Or Jentin, who have done well running Yamahas on a relative shoestring in BSB?

There's a very strong rumour that won't go away that stiggy will be yamaha's b team next year. Instead of being third in line in terms of honda support which they don't want to be. I think it could be really good for that team

I doubt this will be a problem. Future teams (or teams looking to make a change) would be foolish not to go with the R1. It's proven that it's currently one of the best bikes--on par with Ducati.

"It's proven that it's currently one of the best bikes--on par with Ducati.'

Well yes and no. It's to proven to be on par with Ducati in the hands of Spies. It has shown to be a bit down on top end compared to the Aprilia and Ducati. It SHOULD be there next year though after this year of development.

They sure do need more Yams. Since Skykes can't help a team mate out, maybe adding more bikes will do the trick...

What satellite team wouldn't want to get bikes from Meregalli's team? True the R1 doesn't have the best top end (as I remember at Knockhill Stuart Easton was blasting past Camier on the straights, but that could also do with Stuart's small size), but it makes up with great tire life over race distance and seems to pull like a Ducati out of the corners. Stiggy with R1's next year would be interesting for sure, if the rumor holds true. Although they have done magic with the Honda in one year. Haslam was tremendous at the start of the season, we'll see how he goes after the summer break.

Stiggy on factory supported R1s is gonna be a dangerous team to deal with!

"Well yes and no. It's to proven to be on par with Ducati in the hands of Spies. It has shown to be a bit down on top end compared to the Aprilia and Ducati. It SHOULD be there next year though after this year of development."

What bike would you say is better? Only the Xerox Ducati's comes to mind. Sykes isn't the greatest comparison since he's still learing, but put Corser or Biaggi on the R1 and I'm sure they would be up with the Ducs for podiums week in, week out. The bikes have different strengths--that's why I speculate they're "on par". Also, I haven't seen anything to suggest that Yamaha is down on power compared to Ducati. Aprilia, Suzuki, maybe Honda, yes, but not Ducati.