2009 MotoGP teams... and other stuff!
November 8, 2008
Okay, I'll get right to the meat of the post..... The "other stuff" will follow (dessert, if you will).
Here's what we know of the 2009 MotoGP teams and the riders they have signed
Fiat Yamaha:
Valentino Rossi (contract through 2010)
Jorge Lorenzo (contract through 2009)
Tech 3 Yamaha:
Colin Edwards (Contract through 2009)
James Toseland (Took option through 2009)
Repsol Honda:
Dani Pedrosa (Contract through 2009)
Andrea Dovizioso (Contract through 2009)
Ducati:
Casey Stoner (Contract through 2010)
Nicky Hayden (Contract through 2009)
Kawasaki:
John Hopkins (Contract through 2009)
Marco Melandri (Contract through 2010)
Suzuki:
Loris Capirossi (Contract through 2009)
Chris Vermeulen (Contract through 2009)
Gresini Honda:
Toni Elias (Contract through 2009)
Alex de Angelis (Contract through 2009)
Alice Ducati:
Mika Kallio (Contract through 2009)
Niccolo Canepa (Contract through 2009)
Team LCR (Honda):
Randy de Puniet (Contract through 2009)
Scot Honda:
Yuki Takahashi (Contract through 2009)
Onde 2000 Ducati:
Sete Gibernau (Contract through 2009)
Team JiR and Aspar Kawasaki have both dropped out of MotoGP, which unseats Alex Debon and Shinya Nakano. Team JiR was Ben Spies' great white hope for joining MotoGP. Since the dissolution, he has opted to ride for Yamaha in World Superbike, but is forecast to join MotoGP in 2010, riding for Tech 3 Yamaha. At least he is out of AMA....
AMA.... AMA..... AMA.... has reportedly been purchased by NASCRAP. Sweet Jesus. Where does it/will it/ can it end??? I will agree with the fact that NASCRAP can promote the hell out of an event. The advertising money is there, the television contracts abound, and they have a lot of pull in the sports world...... with the bottom feeders.. I mean... bottom quarter of the east coast. There is already a sour taste in the mouths of the sportbike community, but most are willing to give it a wait-and-see approach. Maybe NASCRAP can drum up a tiny bit of class and pull it off. Enough of my opinion... I would now like to cut and paste a few reactions from riders across the country that entertained me.... enjoy!!
"You mean the NASCAR show? Racing where you constantly change the rules to prevent anyone from dominating is not racing. Also go download a NASCAR rule book... oh wait you can't! It may get exposure and increase revenue for the riders/teams (not bad things) but I doubt it will improve 'racing' "
"Well more exposure will be good...hopefully they can even get the redne...I mean the NASCAR lovers to watch."
"Shit. Now I am gonna have to grow a mullet."
My personal favorite so far.....
"I wonder if NASCRAP will charge admission by the number of teeth you still have in your head?"
And last, but certainly not least... one fantastic rant, courtesy of Sean....
" Great, now we can drive our NASCAR Monte Carlos to the speedway, wearing our NASCAR clothing that was washed in NASCAR Tide, while we blissfully sip our NASCAR Coca-Cola Racing Family beverage, from our twin-can hat-mounted beverage dispenser. When we get there, we can watch em turn-left real_fast_like! Hopefully we won't be overwhelmed at the amount of talent being displayed or the fact that aside from paint and decals, several of them moter-sic-els are actually not identical to the others. What's your favorite "Calvin Pissing-On...... " sticker? Quick, somebody pass me a beer and a quaalude! "
At least I know I am not alone :)
One last little personal note.... this afternoon, my brother, Spaz, who will be hereby known as "Double O Spaz" was certified to carry a concealed weapon. As if that is not scary enough (buy stock in Kevlar, and don't forget to get your own vest), he emails me this.....
"I wasn't paying attention, but my concealed weapon permit photo clearly shows my "I make stuff up" shirt.... Is that bad ?!?!?!?"
And to top it off, he was joined in his certification by my father (Oh God!!) who, after the "Double O Third celebratory beer" was subsequently dubbed "Double O Wrinkle" ......
Until next time ....
Rubb'er Down :)
Kristen
