Marquez to Gresini...?

[Le_Fromage_Grande]

If I was HRC I'd tell him to piss off, he's being a right prima donna.

[Yorick]

If I was HRC I'd tell him to piss off, he's being a right prima donna.

They need him more than he needs them.

[Le_Fromage_Grande]

If I was HRC I'd tell him to piss off, he's being a right prima donna.

They need him more than he needs them.

I'm not convinced about that, a divorce might be better for both of them, MM could show how good he can be on a competitive bike, and Honda could decide if MotoGP is something they really want to do.

[mangocrazy]

HRC are an absolute law unto themselves, and when they were head and shoulders above the competition, that rigid hierarchy worked fine. But now the Euro manufacturers have stolen a march on the Japs in just about every important field; electronics, aero, faster prototyping, openness to new ideas etc. The Japs (particularly Honda) are stuck in this rigid, centralised, 'we know best' system that simply isn't working anymore. They're not working to a plan, they've just simply run out of ideas and are blindly copying stuff on rival's bikes they don't really understand.

Honda desperately need MM to stay - he's their only ace in the hole. If he leaves they really are fucked. So while Marc may seem to be acting like a prima donna, it's for a very good reason. He has to drag Honda kicking and screaming into the 21st century. If they lose him, they will either languish at the back of the field or simply quit MotoGP altogether, and no-one really wants that.

[Le_Fromage_Grande]

I get the impression that Honda aren't that bothered about motorcycle racing anymore, I doubt if they're pouring the money into it that Ducati are, I suspect KTM and Aprillia have bigger budgets than HRC do for MotoGP.

[mangocrazy]

I get the impression that Honda aren't that bothered about motorcycle racing anymore, I doubt if they're pouring the money into it that Ducati are, I suspect KTM and Aprillia have bigger budgets than HRC do for MotoGP.

Not sure about the budget thing - I suspect Honda still have the biggest budget, they're just not spending it wisely or in the right places. But their attitude does seem to be a bit 'so what?' They make noises about how they're working really hard behind the scenes, but then they turn up to the Misano test with the same engine they've been using all year. Yamaha are only marginally better.

[Demannu]

If they lose him, they will either languish at the back of the field or simply quit MotoGP altogether, and no-one really wants that.

Some of us are old enough to remember when Honda didn't play with the big boys in 500s

[Yorick]

If they lose him, they will either languish at the back of the field or simply quit MotoGP altogether, and no-one really wants that.

Some of us are old enough to remember when Honda didn't play with the big boys in 500s

Since 1979

[mangocrazy]

If they lose him, they will either languish at the back of the field or simply quit MotoGP altogether, and no-one really wants that.

Some of us are old enough to remember when Honda didn't play with the big boys in 500s

Some of us are old enough to remember when Honda entered the 500cc class for the first time in 1966...

[ChrisW]

Well then, so much for Ducati possibly blocking a move to Gresini.

[Yorick]

Well then, so much for Ducati possibly blocking a move to Gresini.

Ducati have no say over who Gresini sign. Hodgson made that clear yesterday.

[Pirahna]

I think it was Simon Crafer talking to Ducati bloke a couple of weeks ago, he said Marquez would not fit into the works team because their thing was young, up and coming riders. He then said that Gresini could sign whoever they wanted.

[Yorick]

This is the daftest theory yet

https://www.crash.net/motogp/news/10368 ... unite-2025

[Skub]

Sounds nuts!

[Le_Fromage_Grande]

Ducati are probably looking forward to selling Gresini all the replacements for the crash damaged parts, Honda probably see it as cheaper than replacing all the crash damaged parts.

[Tricky]

This is the daftest theory yet

https://www.crash.net/motogp/news/10368 ... unite-2025

I'm really not convinced it is that daft, and I can see it maybe being an interim solution- it's just ( ) a matter of sorting mutually acceptable contractual details and $$$- if those two aspects are agreed it's game on.
Whether it all goes sour and legal for any or all parties by the time the agreement comes to the breakpoint / end is another matter....

[irie]

If Marquez stays with Honda he'll be more grist for the mill - Honda have learnt nothing since Rossi rubbed their noses in their hubris at Welcom 2004.

[KungFooBob]

Sounds like Marc has done the deal with Ducati, but needs to get out of his Honda contract...

[Yorick]

Sounds like Marc has done the deal with Ducati, but needs to get out of his Honda contract...

A few months ago, Honda (Alberto Puig?) said they wouldn't stand in his way if he wanted to leave.

[mangocrazy]

I reckon that Honda, despite their protestations, are deperate for MM to stay and will make it very difficult for him to break his contract. He is desperate to beat VR's record of World Championships and sees the clock ticking. Personally I hope he stays with Honda and brings them back up to speed. If he goes then Honda could be in the wilderness for years.

And I also think Alberto Puig is well past his sell-by date.