Tech3 can't afford to buy out Ginger nuts contract and french sponsors want a french rider! Cal out randy in ?
That'd be a pisstake if that happens, Cal easily deserves the ride and god only knows what was going through their heads when they signed up Ginge all that time ago. I do like RDP but not over Cal, especially on the season he's had to date. Id of preferred Cal going to Ducati but it looks like that's shot. I'd be mortified for him if he ends up ride less, in fact I'd go to gp's just to throw ginger nut biscuits at bradley and garibaldis at Dovi
I think Dovi is a nearly man. Of course one of the best in the world but highly unlikely to ever be THE best. I suspect he's not hungry enough. Does he look miserable when beaten by Pedders, Stoner or Jorge? No, he looks content to make top 4. I think Cal is much hungrier, a bit madder and has more room for improvement. For all those reasons would have preferred him on the Ducrapi. I think they'll get it to work one day, either entirely new bike or different tyres or something. But one day it will win races and would have preferred Cal riding it. Tech 3 would have to be bonkers to sign RdP. He continually bins it and barely finishes a race - and it's been like that for years. Must cost a fortune in bits.
Have to agree with that, Dovis and nice enough bloke and all that but I don't think him being a smooth rider is the answer. Cal seems to have more fire in his belly, redding a similar story, stoner well it's obvious for all to see how he rides. Im not saying ducati need to emulate stoner, that's impossible. But I think they should find a middle ground and not try to make a smooth running Yamaha with red paint on. If its a beast it's a beast, man up and ride it. I just don't see dovi doing that well, he's too smooth and linear and I reckon even if the ducati makes that next step it's not going to be his thing and I just see another Italian moaning all season about the bike and not putting in the required effort to push the limits.... Not what ducati need. They should've taken Cal on a long term, put redding in the jnr, hayden moves on in 2014 and redding moves up to join Cal. Two riders like that in the same team, that's a seriously ballsey team with enough ego and anger to dominate. Still, people getting millions more a year than me make these decisions......sigh
Interesting idea. Would love to see RDP on a great bike as he's one of the most exciting riders on the grid, but Tech 3 have already offered the ride to Cal and if the seat at Ducati has gone, then Cal will stay put for the 2013 campaign. Sadly I dont think the Hayden will be re-signed for 2014 and I say that as a massive, massive Hayden fan, so if Cal continues his excellent run of form he could get a ride, but I think that seat is being kept warm for one Andrea Iannone. Its worth thinking about the CRT bikes as well, which by 2014, will be far more competetive. Didn't Suzuki say that would be back for 2013 and Cal has a history with them from BSB. the next few years will see a huge change but in regard to Cal, I think this was his only chance of a factory seat for this season or the next on a Prototype. Shame really has he is the best thing to happen to British GP racing in years. However, I wouldn't put it past Yamaha to furnish him with a factory bike in Tech 3 colours in a move to keep him interested to fill Rossi seat when he retires in a few seasons time. Of course this is just my opinion and I could be wrong
I hope cal does well, he's done fantastic to say its just year 2 for him and I can't see why he shouldn't get a factory slot. Lets be honest, Dovi can't shake him and Dovis ridden these tracks and these bikes far more than cal so he's hardly doing bad. They need to keep a Brit in the team somewhere, I think we've given enough to bike racing over the years for them not to sideline one of our guys for no reason. Perhaps if more people supported him then they'd be more interested as there would be bigger branding opportunities (if that's what it takes) perhaps we should stop buying 46 stuff and switch to 35??? Cal is 5th currently, not bad to say he's had some serious injurys and ridden like a man possessed through the pain barrier, motogp needs a bloke like him just to keep it a bit rough
Davi is doing a good job... beating those in front is no mean feat... Stoner, lorenzo , pedrosa on factory bikes? quit a daunting trio.. and how much as i like cal, i haven't seem him stay in front of Dovi once.. Could be preparing Dovi for WSBK in 2014... nr 4 in Motogp can make it there... aren't these the days we miss 58 the most? just the idea of him on a ducati makes me smile... that would be pure rodeo, now wouldn't it?
Not necessarily, the deadline for Cal to accept the Tech 3 offer was before Ducati were due to issue the contract, which of course, they never got round to doing...so he could be without a ride easily.....and sadly the Ginger Under Achiever has already said it will cost Tech 3 a huge lump to buy him out, so he seems more determined to get paid than he does to win I'm afraid......
I can't think of anything else to add to that other than I really hope Cal gets the Ducati ride, I too think he is the right man for the job, sooner, rather than later.
You can't really blame Ginger Nuts though. If I had a contract signed to go to MotoGP I reckon I'd want to hang onto it too! His only option to try and force Herve's hand to keep him is to insist on paying him out and hope that Herve can't afford, or doesn't want, to. It's a problem of Herve's creation, he shouldn't have signed him to a deal a year out. Cal's issue is one of timing, and his big mouth. He held out on the factory offer from Ducati wanting the Ben's seat. That wasn't forthcoming, Ducati cooled and so did Herve watching Cal pushing for a seat in every other team than his. Herve, rightfully, started looking around and he has options knowing his bike is the best satellite bike and better than the factory Ducati. I'm not sure that Cal still has an offer from Herve at all but .. the merry go round hasn't stopped and I'm sure the situation is changing daily. Cal's tweeting seems to indicate he's not on the Ducati junior team so we'll see if Herve throws him a lifeline, or not, or exposes his race/series values. By that I mean whether he'll choose a ride on a CRT, to stay in the series, or Moto2, to stay in the right paddock and in front of the right people, or choose to go back to WSB and ride a competitive bike he can win on. All the speculation is good for the sport! I'm pretty keen to see how the rider list shakes out in WSB as well now. Haslam to Ten Kate? Johnny's an excellent talent and it would be great to see how they match up.
I dont think it would be a good career move to hold the boss of the team to ransom. Didnt work out too great for JT
I agree there Matt, he might get paid out but his career will end there, as no team boss will touch him.....
I can't help thinking a move to Ducati will in the short term be professional suicide, the upside is he'll be so far back he won't be the rolling road block he's been so far this season. In the long term I reckon Audi will give Ducati racing a real shake up and in 2-3 years they'll give everyone a surprise.
Great for Cal if Dovi goes and Cal keeps his ride especially if alongside Smith as he's bound to win he team battle. Alas reckon he could get sacrificed coz he cant bring in the dosh. And not surprised really, he's a bit club racer in his attitude certainly not in the mould of most of the other top flight riders imo
