Poll: Pons Honda? Checa? or Biaggi?

[asha]

Seems that Checa is in the pound seat but surely Max is 1000x better.

I hope Max.


p.s. Maybe someone can make this a poll?

[Hazza]

As Carlos tested for Pons at Valencia, i'd tip him to be "the man".

[asha]

If ability means anything, Biaggi.


p.s. thanks for making this a pole Hazza

[Gerben24]

I hope it is going to be Max, not just because I believe he is the more talented rider, but because there is always something going on with Max which makes it the more entertaining to watch.

[SALEEN S7R]

Personally I'm thinking Biaggi too. Checa is a good rider but Biaggi is that bit better IMO, despite having a relativly poor season by his standards.

[BootsOntheSide]

Slightly biased poll options don't you think?

Biaggi did fairly well on the Camel Honda in 2004, and did have some good runs for Repsol this year, but you have to wonder how Honda would react to the team if they did hire Max. Certainly you couldn't picture himg etting as much support from HRC as he did in 2004.

[Gerben24]

Originally Posted by Hazza

As Carlos tested for Pons at Valencia, i'd tip him to be "the man".

Even though he binned it?

[Hazza]

Originally Posted by BootsOntheSide

Slightly biased poll options don't you think?

I woulda given Biaggi a nickname, but this is a family forum and all...

[Alex K]

Max's situation is bad. Carlos Checa is telling everyone he has a contract, HRC is not yet telling everyone that they have signed Stoner... Sito Pons is telling everyone that he will be testing Stoner/Checa pair for next months. Where's Max's place then

I do not think he will want to ride on d'Antin's Ducati, for principals - he would rather terminate his MGP career than run underrated, underfinanced, underperformed team. Japan Italy Racing, wow! Who knows, yet they have a rider, but who knows, maybe if Max would find the backing in Italy, than, maybe, the Monaco based team would run a bike or two for him. But will Honda give them two 2005 spec bikes just for Max
Another option, Yamaha Factory Racing. Let's say, Vale is running in one man team, he doesn't want it, but he may be forced to do it. Than CEII would run the factory backed bikes under different sponsorship, who would parner Colin Maybe Max, but with much less payment from yamaha, and maybe 2005 spec bikes... The fact is that both Colin and Vale will have 2006 machinery, all other Yamaha clients will not run on 2006 machinery.

Brivio said few months ago, that he wants four, five bikes next year. Tech 3 is almost dead, don't think Xaus will run a mile more than he was in 2005... and I don't think Max would want to run in Tech 3 team, after what we saw this year.

[N I Tram]

If Checa is signed, I can see Max taking a sabbatical at the very least. He wouldn't want to ride for a non-works team, there's no space at Ducati, he'd never allow himself into direct competition with Valé, and Kawasaki isn't an option

[pink69]

I hope it isn't the end for Biaggi. He's been my favourite rider since I first became interested in motogp, back when he was in 250's. If he does have a year out, I can't see him getting back in....which would be a great shame. Nice work by Honda to steal a march on Yamaha by getting hold of Stoner now, while he was been linked with Yamaha. Good coup, but you have to wonder if they can find Stoner a seat, why not Vermulen? They've been grooming him for a couple of years then let him go!?! Insane. Elias has been looking impressive in testing, just 1.2 seconds off Hayden on his first outing. Fortuna could have a great shot to push Rossi and Repsol next year with melandri's form.

[pink69]

I was reading MCN at work earlier and they had a story about Max. Apprently Max p*ssed of the japanise Honda board with his constant moaning and poor result in Turkey. The board are fed up because he has been whinging since pre-season, even refusing to do a pre-season test because he felt they'd made no progress with the bike. HRC don't want him on a Honda next year so unless Camel can put their weight behind him, that'll be it for Max. Everyone else is pretty much confirmed, the only other option open is Yamaha.....with Rossi there thats even less likely than him getting back on a Repsol bike any time soon!

[Alex K]

Rossi and Edwards are confirmed in Yamaha Factory Racing, but Rossi may run in one team and Edwards + in other... it's still factory bikes.

Biaggi may choose to run in tech 3, for a less money, and he must find sponsors, which would not be a problem for him... He is still a star with name.

[f1manoz]

Checa. Personally Biaggi has *****ed and moaned far too much this season and has done stuff all. Hayden has done far better this season than he did and the future - Pedrosa, Stoner - are already on the grid.

Checa at Pons for '06 as a swansong.

[Gerben24]

Just a thought, but what if Camel decide they want to ride with Max, would they be able to get Pons to switch bikes, from Honda to Yamaha? That way Yamaha still get Stoner as well!

[Alex K]

Yet we do not know if Camel will sign with Pons. There are no adverts at Pons' Hondas.

I assume Pramac and Camel may go with Max, and it is his only chance, the backing that he has... I wonder, maybe if Poncharal sign Rolfo and Biaggi, plus he will have good backing from camel and Pramac, maybe he will get 2006 spec Yamahas and sign a deal with Michelin, or at least Bridgestone

[bestfit]

Just a thought, but what if Camel decide they want to ride with Max, would they be able to get Pons to switch bikes, from Honda to Yamaha? That way Yamaha still get Stoner as well!

Apparently Casey's contract is with HRC not Pons, so if Pons did move to Yamaha Casey would not be included in the move.