Ben Spies close to Honda MotoGP switch

By Matthew Birt

Ben Spies is mulling over a Honda contract for 2009, with Andrea Dovizioso’s JIR squad leading contenders to sign the reigning American superbike champion.

Dovizioso is understood to have finally signed a deal to replace Nicky Hayden in Honda’s official factory team next season last Saturday in Misano, and his JIR squad is now considering five options to replace the departing Italian.

JIR boss Gianluca Montiron insists he will be on the grid in 2009 Montiron, despite his imminent split from current partner Scot, who merged with his JIR team for this season.

There have been rumours that the Honda RC212V will be leased to Scot for Japanese 250 rider Yuki Takahashi, while Montiron has been linked with running Max Biaggi in Aprilia’s World Superbike team.

Montiron though is adamant he will be in MotoGP next season, and has made offers to Spies, Sete Gibernau, Alex de Angelis, Alvaro Bautista and Mika Kallio. Bautista though confirmed he is staying in the 250GP class next year, while Finn Kallio is close to a deal with the Alice Ducati squad.

Spies though is Montiron’s preferred option, and he claims a deal is close to being finalised, even though Spies has been linked with Ducati’s factory World Superbike team as replacement for world champion elect Troy Bayliss.
“The situation is very clear now with Nicky switching to Ducati and probably Andrea will replace him at HRC.

"Ben is one of the options that I have and already I have agreed the main points with him. We have made good negotiations with him and I can decide to take him for next year if I want. I have made Ben an official offer and we have already agreed terms, “said Montiron, who is understood to have first option on Spies for two more weeks.

Spies has also been locked in negotiations with the Gresini Honda squad.
Commenting on speculation about his own future, Montiron added: “I have everything in place, the contract with Honda I will carry on.

"There is an agreement with Dorna and HRC that they try and keep the existing teams and I have written confirmation from HRC for the machine.”


Sete Gibernau in frame for fifth Ducati

By Matthew Birt

Sete Gibernau’s fading hopes of a shock MotoGP return could be saved at the last-minute by Ducati and Spanish legend Angel Nieto.

Gibernau is desperate to return to the premier class despite retiring at the end of 2006, and he had hoped to clinch a deal with Ducati’s satellite squad.

But with the Bologna factory favouring a more youthful line-up, Gibernau’s hopes appeared over.

But Ducati has confirmed it can now supply five bikes in 2009, with parts already ordered for machines that were designated to run in a test and development team.

But the impending introduction of a one-make tyre rule in ’09 means Ducati can scrap is test team to use the bike in competition, providing a team can be found with sufficient funding.

Talks are well advanced with Nieto and a title sponsor, and Gibernau is the preferred rider given his impressive performances in three testing appearances for Ducati earlier this year.

Factory team boss Livio Suppo told MCN a deal could be finalised for the fifth bike this week, which would swell grid numbers to 20, with Kawasaki adding a third ZX-RR next season.

“For the fifth bike we will know more next week. Things are moving and for the rider line-up I am hoping within the next week will have a clearer understanding, “said Suppo.

spanish press has confirmed that gibernau will be in a ducati in a new team: 2000 onde, the team of pablo nieto

TEAM (Team HRC) and the Pilot (Andrea Dovizioso) wanted both to define the contractual issue by the end of the San Marino GP. And they did. Andrea Dovizioso it has done: it has won a place in the team HRC. The agreement was reached, beyond the finalization or dell'ufficializzazione. He gave the consent of the summit team.
Dovizioso will take the role of Nichy Hayden - who will Ducati, and the agreement with the Italian House could be announced in Indianapois, at the next race - and become the companion team of Dani Pedrosa. Much needs to occupy a position that sheet, because the entourage of Spanish pilot that law reigns supreme and (thanks mainly to the support of Repsol) often imposing its own rules.
But this is a grand occasion, at the technical level, and reaching the objective of the forlivese pursuing since the start of his career rainbow lived with throughout the honda.

Andrea, currently on the team Jiro Scot, signed on Saturday with HRC for the post of Nicky Hayden who had counted as you will be next year at Ducati. Unofficial but that both announcements can be made public in Indianapolis, although you for the Dovizioso will have to wait a couple of weeks, until the Japanese Grand Prix at Motegi, Honda's home

Rossi: Hayden Is Signed To Ducati
by dean adams
Tuesday, September 09, 2008 I chatted with Valentino Rossi yesterday afternoon in Las Vegas and brought up the much-rumored subject of Nick Hayden leaving Honda and joining Ducati's MotoGP team for 2009.
Rossi was nearly adamant that Hayden has signed a contract to race for Marlboro Ducati next season as a teammate to Casey Stoner.
"I think that situation is completed, it is finalized," Rossi said of Hayden joining Ducati after nearly ten years with Honda.

Fausto Gresini Confirms Alex De Angelis For 2009
09 September 2008 - Gresini Honda
After a season together in MotoGP, Alex De Angelis and Fausto Gresini have recently signed a new contract for the forthcoming 2009 MotoGP World Championship.

De Angelis’ confirmation as a rider of the Faenza-based team is the result of a strengthened relationship of common confidence developed during the 2008 season. It has been a year in which Alex has demonstrated his potential, his willingness to gain experience and to grow in the top class of Motorcycle racing, conquering two fourth places in Mugello and at the Sachsenring Grand Prix.

NOW IS OFFICIAL

Nicky Hayden will make team with Casey Stoner at the Ducati main team.
Niccolo Canepa will make team with Mika Kallio for the client team of ducati.
And Sete Gibernau will be on the 5th Demonsedici, on a spanish team.

GOD SAVE US

where did you read about niccolo canepa and Mika Kallio, young one?

Phew !!

Nicky stays in motogp


Dani Pedrosa needs some happy pills

HERE>>ITALIAN SITE

Canepa correrà con la Ducati in MotoGP

Il pilota genovese farà coppia con Kallio nel team satellite





Una settimana fa è stato protagionista di un brutto incidente sulla pista del Mugello. Tradito dalla Ducati Desmosedici Niccolò Canepa si è ritrovato per terra con un discreto numero di fratture cho lo costringono tutt'ora al riposo forzato.
Dentro questa dolorososa convalescenza arriva comunque una buonissima notizia per il pilota ventenne gestito da Carlo Pernat. La Ducati ha infatti deciso di ingaggiarlo come pilota ufficiale del team satellite per la prossima stagione, insieme al finlandese Mika Kallio.
La prima squadra conterà su Casey Stoner e sul neoacquisto Nicky Hayden, mentre una quinta Desmosedici - gestita da una squadra spagnola - potrebbe essere schierata per Sete Gibernau.
Intanto Fausto Gresini ha annunciato la riconferma di Alex De Angelis, mentre resta da definire a chi sarà assegnata la seconda Honda clienti del team italiano.
10 settembre 2008

Too be honest, I wouldnt believe much that I read on an Italian website, unless its an official one......But its obvious that nicky is going..

I think we have differing versions of 'official' but i'd say they look almost certain, although the Elias situation doesn't look final yet.