Cal is a Yamaha test rider next year

[formula400]

Looks like Cals now a Yamaha test rider, who took the Aprilla seat??



what he wrote in September last year

https://www.motorsportmagazine.com/arti ... ment-looms

[formula400]

[lostboy]

That Aprilia team is toxic so it's the right decision.

Bizarre that Honda don't think about him for the same role as he's the only other rider to win on it.

[millemille]

Well, I guess they'll get a chance to work on the crash proofing and gravel resistance of the M1 if nothing else...

[weeksy]

I'd think it's a bit harder to crash than the Honda, so may be a thought for him in that context too.

either way, i'm REALLY glad he didn't ride the Prila.

[formula400]

I am just gutted he's not racing

[millemille]

I'd think it's a bit harder to crash than the Honda, so may be a thought for him in that context too.

He managed to crash walking down the steps from the COVID testing room at Barcelona so I'd say the brand of bike is not going to have much to do with his continuing penchant for throwing himself into the gravel...

[Bigyin]

Makes sense for Yamaha to sign him up ........ Who else this season has had full access to the Honda and HRC development. He is also the only one who rode the Honda remotely close to how Marquez does. Even Jorge changed the bike well away from Marc's settings as it was completely alien to his style.

He will still earn well, be within the community and paddock no doubt as well as the opportunity to step up for the odd wild card next season hopefully . I hope it gives him what he needs without any more injuries to get over

[Dodgy knees]

It ain't a bad job...

[Skub]

I'm glad he dodged the Aprilia bullet.

[weeksy]

I'm glad he dodged the Aprilia bullet.

Massively so.... i hate it when people who are/were talented then end up on completely rubbish bikes doing terribly.

Without sounding too harsh, Rossi should have retired a couple of years back IMO and gone out as a great, rather than an also-ran. Possibly contentious but, i can't help but feel sad and disappointed when he's running round in 10th place, struggling to qualify etc.

[lostboy]

I'm glad he dodged the Aprilia bullet.

Massively so.... i hate it when people who are/were talented then end up on completely rubbish bikes doing terribly.

Without sounding too harsh, Rossi should have retired a couple of years back IMO and gone out as a great, rather than an also-ran. Possibly contentious but, i can't help but feel sad and disappointed when he's running round in 10th place, struggling to qualify etc.

I don't that you're being contentious at all. I think there's only two people that don't think that - Rossi himself and Carmelo. I suspect even Yamaha are fed up that he's now effectively "bike blocking", but keep looking the sales graphs with a sigh.

[Bigyin]

Jorge isnt exactly chuffed at the announcement

"Its like getting rid of Gold to have Bronze" ........ouch

[formula400]

I don't that you're being contentious at all. I think there's only two people that don't think that - Rossi himself and Carmelo. I suspect even Yamaha are fed up that he's now effectively "bike blocking", but keep looking the sales graphs with a sigh.

Suzi Perry also thinks that

[Yorick]

I don't that you're being contentious at all. I think there's only two people that don't think that - Rossi himself and Carmelo. I suspect even Yamaha are fed up that he's now effectively "bike blocking", but keep looking the sales graphs with a sigh.

Suzi Perry also thinks that

Today she looked even more wierd than last week.
Expensive shirt.
Loads of slap.
But she had 'just got out of bed' hair.

[DEADPOOL]

These monster machines are a young mans game. Cal is a superb rider, really right up there with the very best but after your mid 20's, the injuries will just keep piling up. The bloke must have balls of steel to do what he does and to do it at that level.

But if he was a race horse, they'd shoot him.

[weeksy]

I did like his comments yesterday " I think I've done better than my actual talent should have allowed"

Yeah, can't argue there, the boy works damn hard!

[G.P]

I think its a good move and unlike Lorenzo, Cal is keen to wild card and step in for injured riders in either team (even though regs didn't allow it this year). I've got tickets for the Silverstone MotoGP next year. Wouldn't bet against seeing Cal with a Wild card.

[Skub]

Jorge isnt exactly chuffed at the announcement

"Its like getting rid of Gold to have Bronze" ........ouch

From what I've gathered,despite Lorenzo's undisputed talent for winning on a motorcycle,he has no clue what the bike is doing and would be unable to give much useful feedback on which direction to go for improvement. Not much value there as a test rider.

Apparently Hailwood was another such rider,he just rode the balls off the bike without knowing how the bouncy bits worked.

[Bigyin]

From what I've gathered,despite Lorenzo's undisputed talent for winning on a motorcycle,he has no clue what the bike is doing and would be unable to give much useful feedback on which direction to go for improvement. Not much value there as a test rider.

Apparently Hailwood was another such rider,he just rode the balls off the bike without knowing how the bouncy bits worked.

I was surprised when he got the test rider gig as Jorge always sets his bike up “long” for stability yet the Honda and Yamaha are both developed for being able to turn well albeit in different ways. Cal has the same bike history with HRC, Ducati and Yamaha over the years but a riding style more alike his peers unlike Lorenzo

Time will tell as Pedrosa seems to have made a huge difference to the progress of KTM sticking a current fast rider onto development