Alice reportedly withdrawing from Ducati sponsorship

[El Toro]

Dorna, as usual, is totally silent regarding what is going on behind the scenes. Talks are supposedly being held this week in Japan to try to cut costs for MotoGP racing. The idea of using production parts on bikes is out because apparantly FIM Super Bike has exclusive rights to racing bikes with production parts.

Alice supposed has withdrawn from their Ducati support. Where's Camel when you need them?

Meanwhile, Kawasaki is supposedly attending the discussions, lending credibility to the idea that they have not totally closed the door on participating in 09. There have been some rumors that Asper was negotiating to take over their team.

Lots of uncertainty about the future right now, and its really hard to get credible reports since everything is done behind closed doors.

 

[Randy]

Dorna, as usual, is totally silent regarding what is going on behind the scenes. Talks are supposedly being held this week in Japan to try to cut costs for MotoGP racing. The idea of using production parts on bikes is out because apparantly FIM Super Bike has exclusive rights to racing bikes with production parts.
Alice supposed has withdrawn from their Ducati support. Where's Camel when you need them?

Meanwhile, Kawasaki is supposedly attending the discussions, lending credibility to the idea that they have not totally closed the door on participating in 09. There have been some rumors that Asper was negotiating to take over their team.

Lots of uncertainty about the future right now, and its really hard to get credible reports since everything is done behind closed doors.

Hmmmm.......Monster out of a team to sponsor that had a rider from one of their biggest markets....one of the most popular riders from Monster's biggest market on a team without a sponsor.....anyone else see where this might lead?????

 

[El Toro]

Dorna, as usual, is totally silent regarding what is going on behind the scenes. Talks are supposedly being held this week in Japan to try to cut costs for MotoGP racing. The idea of using production parts on bikes is out because apparantly FIM Super Bike has exclusive rights to racing bikes with production parts.
Alice supposed has withdrawn from their Ducati support. Where's Camel when you need them?

Meanwhile, Kawasaki is supposedly attending the discussions, lending credibility to the idea that they have not totally closed the door on participating in 09. There have been some rumors that Asper was negotiating to take over their team.

Lots of uncertainty about the future right now, and its really hard to get credible reports since everything is done behind closed doors.

Hmmmm.......Monster out of a team to sponsor that had a rider from one of their biggest markets....one of the most popular riders from Monster's biggest market on a team without a sponsor.....anyone else see where this might lead?????

I thought so too, but there have been denials because the Kawasaki deal is not yet undone, unless something happened overnight in Japan. I saw no closure when I checked earlier today (after their business day was over).

Maybe that will be a solution.

 

[Randy]

I thought so too, but there have been denials because the Kawasaki deal is not yet undone, unless something happened overnight in Japan. I saw no closure when I checked earlier today (after their business day was over).
Maybe that will be a solution.

IF Kawi is done as a factory effort and picked up by Aspar as has been rumored, no guarantees that Monster will come along for the ride.

 

[El Toro]

Yesterday on the official Dorna site they did a story about Suzuki's 2009 campaign.

Today there was a story about Honda and the 3 teams they would be supporting in 2009.

Maybe tomorrow we'll hear something about Yamaha.

It will be awkward if they delay stories about Kawasaki and/or Ducati... but what's a little awkwardness among friends?

 

[El Toro]

Today's story on the Dorna site is about Ducati, including teams sponsored by Marlboro, Alice, and Onde (single bike).

I think this whole business is going to get resolved with most, if not all, of the current players still playing.

 

[Randy]

Just tell us the poop about Kawi already!!! Jeeeez.