BSB 2005 Silly Season

[BootsOntheSide]

It looks liek Kagayama will go to WSBK with Suzuki, probably with the Alstare team. Scott Smart is likely to replace him as Rizla - he definitely won't be with Hawk next year - Dean Thomas is likely to get that ride.

GSE should be back with Ducati, Sendo will continue with some factory support, while MonsterMob are now thought to be unlikely to switch bikes.

Honda are likely to replace Rutter with Karl Harris, although he could run in a satellite team, with Yamaha axing both Plater and Mason - Richard Wren will join them, supposedly alongside Hill and Emmett. Rutter may go to MonsterMob or GSE? James Ellison ought to get a works ride in something too.

[chunder]

Heard the rumours about GSE, nothing confirmed yet but Ducati have said they want to increase their involvment in the series. GSE could attract a few people, Hodgson,Walker even Chili has said he would ride in teh UK.
As fr Birdy, think he wants to keep Ducati but he likes winning and unless Corse do a lot of work on the bike I cant see them winning.
Good shout about Kag doing WSB, alongside Corser perhaps?

[SALEEN S7R]

Confirmed today Scott Smart has signed for Rizla Suzuki for the 2005 BSB champion, most likely replacing Yukio Kagayama.

Source:www.crash.net

Crash.net can exclusively reveal that former Hawk Kawasaki rider Scott Smart has signed a contract with Rizla Suzuki for 2005 following weeks of speculation.

In a recent conversation with the Yorkshire based rider, he admitted that he was very happy about the move to the number one British Superbike team.

“I'm very, very pleased to clinch the deal, and am looking forward to the new challenge,” commented Smart. “This puts me in a very strong position for the championship next season.

“I know the guys within the Rizla team well so I should fit right in, although they will have their work cut out with me!” he quipped.

“The Suzuki's we will have next season are an all new bike, so there will be lots of development work to do which I like. The Rizla team are possibly the most competent in the paddock at developing road bikes into race bikes, so I'm looking forward to that.”

Smart enjoys having a hand in the development of his race bikes. Over the past two season's with Hawk Kawasaki he took a major role in the engine tuning of the Kawasaki's. However with his move to Rizla, he will not play such a hands on role within the team.

“I won't be so hands on at Rizla as they have enough staff to handle the job themselves, but saying that I'm sure everybody will be involved with the development,” he said.

Scott was keen to add that he had left his former Hawk Kawasaki team on very good terms.

“I've had a great deal of fun and success with them (Hawk) over the last couple of seasons and wish them all the best in the future. We split on the best terms possible,” he concluded.

Scott will join reigning British Superbike champion John Reynolds at the Verwood based team.

Scott is now preparing for a racing challenge of another kind as he jets off to Florida for the Model Car racing championships for three weeks break, before returning to Britain in time for the NEC International Motorcycle and Scooter show in Birmingham.

[racer69]

is Aussie Glen Richards staying with Hawk Kawasaki again next year?

[BootsOntheSide]

I think so racer69 - he'd've surely won a race this year were it not for his crash, so they'd be wise to keep him.

Great news for Scott, but it's a real shame for the series to lose Yukio - he's amazingly popular with the British fans, especially after Cadwell. At the same time, it could be good to have Suzuki back in WSBK at works level.