03 line ups

[pink69]

At the moment we've got something like this...

Ducati - Hodgson / Edwards?
Honda? - Hayden? / ?
Aprillia - Haga? / E/B.Bostrum?
GSE - Walker / Toseland
Yamaha? - Gobert? / ?
FPR - Haydon / Corser

Not alot confirmed, and no riders at the moment for Xuas or confirmed rider for Ben. Looks like we've got a wait to see the shape for next years championship.

[Speeddemon555]

Rumors has it that Nicki Hayden might go to Moto GP to ride for the Yamaha team.

[f1manoz]

Edwards will be at Ducati next year. He basically confirmed as much during an interview I saw on Saturday, but the team are waiting to make it official, deciding on what to do with Bayliss, who still looks like he's going to MotoGP.

Aprilia will be taking on a second rider for sure next year to help Haga develop the bike, so Bostrum is a chance there, but either Bostrum could end up on any bike in the WSBK paddock. During the coverage last night, a rumour going round is that Ben is homesick and may head back to the AMA.

Gobert is a definite chance of a ride on the international scene, and could be in either WSB or MotoGP. Whoever he's with, it will be a Yamaha.

Who knows what is going on with Honda. They've basically forced Edwards out by not giving him the MotoGP ride he wants and richly deserves, and the only riders they can probably put on their bikes now are local Jap. riders, unless Hayden joins (but he's probably off to MotoGP) or they pick up a Bostrom, which is relatively unlikely.

[gomick]

heard last night that xaus might partner haga at aprilia.

[racer69]

Ducati - Edwards/Hodgson

Honda - Heard a rumour that the Cabin Honda team might move up to WSB, or at least Tamada & team manager Okada. As for Castrol Honda, may fold, more likely to stay i would say as a one rider team, i really wouldn't count out Nicky Hayden, as he would make money from WSB, rather than have to pay or bring a sponser to MotoGP.

Aprilia - Haga and Eric Bostrom i would say, Muggeridge? tested for them at end of last year.

Suzuki - Wouldn't suprise me if they pulled out, although i thought the same last year, and with the new bike for next year, it could entice them to stay. Riders, Lavilla? Corser?Mladin? Karl Harris?

Foggy - Hayden. Not sure about Corser, he has wasted this year, would he waste another developing the bike, which he was meant to do this year.

Yamaha - Maybe the BSB Virgin team could move over, with Plater and Emmet, leaving the other Virgin team from this years BSB (riding the old R7s) to become the lead Yamaha's in BSB.


As for Xaus, after this year he doesn't really deserve a top ride, but seeing as he is Spanish, and they seem to be flavour of the month along with Japanese and Italian riders in MotoGP, he could most likely easily pick up a ride there.

Chili is rumoured to be putting together a team of his own, on Ducati's of course.

B Boz should go back to the AMA's for a year to recharge, set his sights on a top showing as a wildcard at the Laguna AMA round and try to get a top WSB or MotoGP ride for 2003, either that or try to find a sponser and buy a top ride.