Read a story this morning inw hich Honder dropped one or both it's WEC teams. It was early, my Italian is no so good but someone got the axe.
Very intrigued to see how Redding goes in WSBK. Last year Haslam did a demolition job in BSB and hasn't been much of a threat in WSBK. I wonder how Redding will fare.
We already knew what Haslam's level was in wsbk. It's beyond me how anyone thought that he was going to contend for a championship this year. A place on the final championship podium would have been a win for him, as far as I was concerned.
Motomatters is now suggesting Bautista may fill Zarco's seat at KTM. https://motomatters.com/news/2019/08/28/scott_redding_replaces_alvaro_bautista.html
I think his job was to collect points for the manufacturer's championship and block up people from getting up to Rea.
I don't have the slightest doubt. What I meant (by omission) was that his move is indeed intriguing. Haslam wasn't. And Bautista did Redding a big favor: expectations from media and bandwagon jumpers should be much more tempered. It should be less pressure.
I absolutely agree with you. I'm just highlighting that success in BSB isn't necessarily an indicator of success in WSBK, even if you're moving over on the "same" bike/a bike that's proven capable in the right hands.
More on Bautista… https://motomatters.com/news/2019/09/11/alvaro_bautista_honda_worldsbk_with_hrc.html
Yeah man, that story was full up with information. New Honder, Moriwaki and Althea shit canned, salaries. Almost over load of nuggets of information.
I will believe the "new Honda" hype when it actually takes the grid and doesn't get it's ass handed to it on the straights.
So where does that leave Camier? I've always enjoyed watching him ride that ancient MV to it's limits and beyond trying to stay with the well funded factories. Would be a shame to see him leave the series. I assume if Moriwaki stays on, they will stick with Honder, but what about Althea? Seems to me that maybe they should pick up a better proven bike (like Ten Kate did) and try to get some success with it. Also, if the HRC WSBK team is in the same HQ as the GP team, does that mean Honda is pulling pulling resources from the GP effort to boost the WSBK effort?
Again, good for Alvaro! With the rumors of his Ducati race bonuses being in the realm of $25k each, having to win 16 races just to match HRC's base salary is ludicrous. What's even more ludicrous is that Ducati thought it was acceptable to offer him a salary lower than Davies' given their respective results. Fuck that. He made the right choice.
Didn't I just see an interview yesterday where Bautista basically outright said he hadn't signed with honda but had definitely signed something? I'll believe it when I see it with an actual source and not just speculation based on speculation of a new bike.
http://www.speedweek.com/sbk/news/148732/Exklusiv-Die-Plaene-fuer-das-Honda-Werksteam-2020.html Sure. Let's keep Kiyo who hasn't been able to match his teammates points haul even with him being out since May. Hoping Camier finds someplace to ride.