Rossi to Yahama - it's a (kinda) done deal

phozed · 10-08-2003, 9:21 AM

This is all posted on euro sites right now - looks like the rumors were close. Some bad translations:

Valentino Rossi will communicate Italian medium messages to consequence on Sunday after the Grand Prix of Malaysia its change to Yamaha. This reports the on-line sport magazine datasport.it on its homepage. Contrary to the previous weeks, when the Italian press sealed a change Rossis to Ducati or into the formula 1 here, now facts are presented. Rossi, for which in Malaysia a second place is sufficient for title defense, is to receive a work Yamaha in the Gauloises team of the Frenchman Hervé Poncharal. The Gage is to amount to 10 million euro. Cigar advertisement would accept the 24-jaehrige Italians. It is not excluded that Rossis past main sponsor Repsol likewise changes to Yamaha. In this case it would not be impossible that Carlo Checa, which has still another valid contract in the official Fortuna Yamaha Werkstteam became Rossis team companion. Alex Barros is to free the place in the Gauloises team for Rossi and be used into the Honda Gresini team beside Sete Gibernau. Rossis freed place in the official HRC Honda team was received to Colin Edward. In the Aprilia team however the Frenchman is Olivier Jacque in the discussion, which will dismiss in the Gauloises Yamaha team.

Rossi: ' With the Honda it is not a problem of money '.... '

WITH the HONDA It is not PROBLEM OF MONEy' still Lacks the official announcement, but Valentino Rossi is to a step from the Yamaha. 'I will reveal my future in Malaysia, I do not know if before or after the contest - it has declared in exclusive right to As - With the Honda it is not a problem of money, but of mentality'. The great challenge will be to equal Lawson, winner in the class Queen with two different Marches. 'they would not dispiacerebbe to follow its passes to me and to gain World-wide with the two motion various ones' has confidato sorridendo.

http://www.motomondiale.tv
http://www.motograndprix.de
http://www.datasport.it

fl-929 · 10-08-2003, 11:00 AM

It wouldn't suprise me with Rossi. *I think one of the announcers on the last GP mentioned he would go to Yamaha.

But didn't Colin already sign for two more years with Aprilia?

Crash · 10-08-2003, 11:07 AM

Rossi on a Yamamma! Hmm He would in essence be the the world best development rider as the M1 is still not up to par. Barros proved that as he was able to beat Rossi on a Honda, but moved to Yamaha and he's been struggling.

I doubt Colin would vacate the Aprilla camp after one season. Granted the bike is a POS but still......

ccwilli3 · 10-08-2003, 11:09 AM

I doubt edwards will leave as well... Especially after the 'edwards rep' mille...

And Barros came on strong, but got hurt... Too bad... But if you use the logic that he could beat rossi, and now he can't, you can't blame it on yamaha... Ukawa beat rossi and challenged him a lot last year, yet he has been no where this year, and he's on the same bike... *shrug*...

BDA116 · 10-08-2003, 11:19 AM

Colin could go to Honda IF Honda were to buy out Colin's contract at Aprilia. Aprilia needs the money, and Honda will now need someone that could be instantly competetive on the main bike. The whole reason for skipping over Colin in favor of Nicky was to keep the other factory rider away from Rossi. If Colin were Rossi's teammate, it could have caused problems this year. The purpose of getting Nicky was to groom him for a couple years behind Rossi to take over the 'golden child' position.
That's all up in the air now. Having Colin as Nicky's teammate would help the both of them. Colin would be able to fight for podium positions as Nicky continued to learn (and fight for podium positions).
Those two already like each other, and would work very well together.
If Repsol jumped ship, and Colin were to team with Nicky I could see two things happening: A major American company sponshorship and a USGP.
Oh, and next years' racing will be awesome. Unless Yamaha has come up with something better than their current pile, Rossi's talent alone won't be enough for him to win. He'll be in the top five or six, but won't be dominating races.

I for one like this rumor.

phozed · 10-08-2003, 11:24 AM

I think you guys will be suprised then - I'm almost sure Colin will leave. Also - not sure about his contract status (I think he signed a two year deal also) but look at Hayden and Yamaha last year... Contracts are broken all the time. As for the replica bike - that sure didn't stop BBoz from leaving Ducati for Honda.

I check out CE's website and both he and his dad have been posting hints of Colin leaving 'prilla - here are two:

From CE II:
P.S. Rumor mill is spinning out of control!!!!!!!!! Fill you in later. Doesn't that just piss you off. All the build up just to be let down. Now you know what my shoes feel like!!! hehe

From CE Snr:
Things just maybe a little more exciting next year ....Snr

h8mondays · 10-08-2003, 11:53 AM

Last year at the RC51 (ROGUE) trackdays. Colin was there and gave all of us who attended, a lot of insight into his going to Aprillia. *I'm not 100% sure, but I think he closed the deal on the phone while he was in Pahrump with us because it was announced within a day or two of the event.

Anyhow, he kept saying that no bridges were being burned with Honda and that he would have liked to have stayed with them. *He told us the hang up was with his crew coming with him from WSBK and his choice of tires (Mich)... *He said that if those two issues were no longer issues, he would be riding red. *

I know there are a lot of back alley deals and he didn't share everything with a bunch of trackday riders/fans, but he was pretty strait up about the whole thing. *I remember him saying that Honda would always be in his future..... *For one, I hope this rumor is true. *I personally think that CE would be near the top in the rankings if he were on a competitive machine like the Honda.

h8

tigerblade · 10-08-2003, 12:00 PM

I would be VERY surprised to see two Americans as the #1 and #2 Honda factory riders. MotoGP is very political. Sure, Suzuki has Hopper and KRJ, but who cares about them anyway?

Crash · 10-08-2003, 12:25 PM

Some good points. Honda could easily slide a Japanees rider into the Repsol team. A lot of people are capable of being the A rider for Honda.

About Barros, you made a good point about Ukawa. The silly season hasn't even started for MotoGP and look at everyone already

ccwilli3 · 10-08-2003, 12:56 PM

Quote:

tigerblade : Sure, Suzuki has Hopper and KRJ, but who cares about them anyway? *

but, but, booth loves hopper! And to further backup your point, suzuki doesn't really have a GP sponsor other than 'suzuki'... The honda/yamaha/ducati teams all have mainstream LARGE corporate sponsorship.

I have a difficult time believing nicky/colin on the repsol team... Now, colin with max or sete, I can buy that...

mr_rua · 10-08-2003, 1:21 PM

Quote:

tigerblade : I would be VERY surprised to see two Americans as the #1 and #2 Honda factory riders. *MotoGP is very political. *Sure, Suzuki has Hopper and KRJ, but who cares about them anyway? *

How about Tamada teaming with Nicky? Right now Tamada is showing a lot of promise with his Bridgestone shod Pramac Honda. If I remember correctly, the Pramac Honda will not be running next year due to executive decisions by Honda to only field 6 Hondas on the grid.

tigerblade · 10-08-2003, 1:31 PM

Quote:

ccwilli3 : Quote (tigerblade @ Oct. 08 2003, 12:00pm)Sure, Suzuki has Hopper and KRJ, but who cares about them anyway? *

but, but, booth loves hopper! *
I meant 'Who cares about Suzuki', not 'Who cares about Hopper and KRJ'. LOL

Crash · 10-08-2003, 1:48 PM

The Tamada, Hayden thing would be a huge risk for the main honda team. But Rossi's crew chief did say that he thinks the Bridgestone tires would help Rossi tremendously. Who knows, maybe two sophomores riding Repsol Hondas with Bridgestone tires.

I would like to Sete and Nicky personally. I think that Sete would be a better mentor and he could really help bring Nicky up another level. I've always thought that the chemistry didn't seem right with Rossi and Hayden. I never heard Nicky say, 'yeah you know, he sat me down and we went over lines, tips, anything' it's always been. 'I've talked to him a few times and he is a pretty cool guy.'

Problem is that Sete already signed another two year deal with Telephonica...

CBRVFR · 10-08-2003, 3:47 PM

Somebody explain to me why Rossi would go with Yamaha rather than Ducati? Maybe I didn't understand the Italian 'translation', but didn't it indicate that Honda would match any offer by anyone?

Just doesn't seem like a good match to me, especially if he intends to leave MotoGP after a few years and play racecar driver.

ccwilli3 · 10-08-2003, 4:04 PM

Quote:

CBRVFR : Somebody explain to me why Rossi would go with Yamaha rather than Ducati? Maybe I didn't understand the Italian 'translation', but didn't it indicate that Honda would match any offer by anyone? *

Just doesn't seem like a good match to me, especially if he intends to leave MotoGP after a few years and play racecar driver.

EXACTLY! Why go yamaha when you could go ducati and ride ITALIAN, which is what he wants to do anyway! That just makes more sense to me.

tigerblade · 10-08-2003, 4:05 PM

Not sure about the contracts of Bayliss and Capirossi and if Ducati would want to field more than 2 full-factory riders. They are supposedly going to supply satellite teams next year (maybe even engines for WCM) but you know Rossi won't be on anything other than full factory. Probably a better guess would be Aprilia, as far as Rossi's history with them.

grafixman · 10-08-2003, 4:54 PM

More fuel for the fire from amasuperbike.com

The rumor that Val Rossi was on the verge of signing with Yamaha has been making the rounds for at least two weeks now, but has reached fever pitch today with several foreign web sites stating that he has now SIGNED with Yamaha for 2004.

Reportedly Rossi became incensed at HRC because they kicked back one of his expense reports where he added in a travel expense for his girlfriend (Rossi HAS a girlfriend?&#33. That touched off a war of words between him, his manager and HRC.

The Yamaha offer, for a reported eight million dollars for one season (which is *almost* what Doohan made in his last season of racing)then seemed to take on a new life with Rossi and Co.

Rossi is said to be ready to make an announcement on his future this weekend in Sepang. Couple all of the above with the fact that he's on the verge of wrapping up the world title this weekend as well ...

From there the rumors stop being little one-cell beings in a paddock-shaped petri dish and become walking monsters: Honda is going to make nice with Colin Edwards II to re-sign him in place of Rossi, which will give the HRC team two Americans for the first time in ... ever. Even though Edwards was reportedly 're-signed' with Aprilia for 2003 months ago, now, he's free to sign with Honda. But, doesn't Ducati have an option on Edwards for 2004? All rumors ...

It is said that for Rossi, the most tantalizing aspect of the switch from Honda to Yamaha is that he will have a shot at even more history than he has earned already. He'd do that by winning the world title in successive years while riding for two different manufacturers, as four-time world champion Eddie Lawson did in 1988/1989. Lawson won the title on a Yamaha in 1988 and then swapped to a Kanemoto Honda for '89 and won his fourth title. Rossi has won the 125/250 and 'MotoGP' titles already and is the most naturally talented rider the world has seen since Freddie Spencer.

For Rossi, the similarities with what Lawson accomplished don't end with just swapping teams and bikes. Lawson won the '89 title on what is considered one of the most vile handling motorcycles ever raced in GP. For Rossi, racing the Yamaha will be a true test of his God-like ability, because even though it has started to come around in the past few races, the M1 has nearly been trounced in 2003 by both the Hondas and the new Ducati.

phozed · 10-08-2003, 4:58 PM

read what Dennis Noyes says:

BREAKING NEWS: Rossi is Leaving Honda for Gauloises Yamaha

roadracer319 · 10-08-2003, 6:03 PM

Holy Crap!

dB · 10-08-2003, 6:18 PM

WOW! Some huge changes...

I can't wait for next season!

oldgoat · 10-08-2003, 6:18 PM

Now Max will really kick Rossi's ass. I don't think anyting can beat Honda. last race the first 5 bike were Honda. its way more than the rider, Rossi is in trouble next year. IMo

deez · 10-08-2003, 7:11 PM

I think Rossi can be competitive and fight for the title on the Ducati, the Honda, AND the Yamaha, I really do. I wouldn't put anything past the guy, at all. Will the Yamaha make it difficult, sure. But who in the hell can run off the track, end up in 10th, and comeback to win, he has done that once, and finished 2nd when he did it the 2nd time. He CAN win on the Yamaha, he is the best, do not doubt someone with 4 titles, 5 titles this weekend.

And Colin back on a competitive bike, PHUCKING KICK ASS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I can't wait, I hope these rumours are true, Noyes is usually spot on. This will make for the most interesting 4 stroke GP season yet. Colin on a competitive bike, Hayden learning and moving up, and the wildcard, Rossi whom everyone is already doubting.

CBRVFR · 10-08-2003, 7:34 PM

Quote:

booth23 : *He CAN win on the Yamaha

But Booth, he won't be on an R1.....

deez · 10-08-2003, 7:39 PM

Quote:

CBRVFR : Quote (booth23 @ Oct. 08 2003, 7:11pm)*He CAN win on the Yamaha

But Booth, he won't be on an R1.....

Damn I forgot! If he was on the R1, he'd win every phucking race, and BDA would be his #1 fan, but only on the R1

Imagine hearing from all the little bitch squids that Yamaha is #1 on and on, gee willickers Wally, I can hardly wait

BDA116 · 10-08-2003, 8:48 PM

Booth, it already cracks me up when the Yamafreaks talk about the 'new bike based off the M1'. So the fuuk what?