BSB 2008 Silly Season

A few references to 2008 rides have started in the 2007 thread, so it's probably time to split them off into one thread. The story so far:

Kiyonari and Rea both gone to Ten Kate (Kiyo in WSB, Rea in WSS). Haslam and Crutchlow replace them - http://www.crash.net/motorsport/bsb/...w_line-up.html

Japanese champion Atsushi Watanabe joins Suzuki - http://www.crash.net/motorsport/bsb/...be_to_bsb.html . Chris Walker goes to World Supersport.

GSE may be gone if they can't run the 1098 bike, Lavilla probably gone either way.

Relentless TAS Suzuki stepping up from Supersport, with Michael Laverty - http://www.superbike-news.co.uk/absolutenm/anmviewer.asp?a=10264&z=4

Airwaves Ducati WILL be on the grid with Byrne, Camier and the a couple of 1098R's!

http://www.crash.net/motorsport/bsb/news/156919-0/airwaves_back_with_a_bang.html

http://www.crash.net/motorsport/bsb/news/156930-0/wright_explains_gse_return_-_exclusive.html

Tom Sykes to Rizla Suzuki.

http://www.crash.net/motorsport/bsb/news/156916-0/confirmed_sykes_to_rizla_suzuki.html

With Byrne & Sykes gone, what now for Stobart Honda??

There are always riders like Plater, Haydon, etc on the market. However, I think it'll be difficult to repeat some of the results they achieved this year.

With Byrne & Sykes gone, what now for Stobart Honda??

Off to WSBK it seems!!! http://www.crash.net/motorsport/bsb/news/156956-0/bird_flies_to_world_superbikes.html

GRRR!

6-7 years too late. :(

Off to WSBK it seems!!! http://www.crash.net/motorsport/bsb/news/156956-0/bird_flies_to_world_superbikes.html

Expect Tommy Hill and Craig Jones to sign for the rides!

Jones has already signed for a Supersport team.

Next up,

Has the bikeanimal.com Honda team been disbanded?

Who is likely to get the spec-tyre deal?

Any hope for Karl Harris somewhere?

Also, whats happening at Virgin Yamaha?

Also, whats happening at Virgin Yamaha?

I don't know about the team, but Tommy Hill is off to WSS

http://www.crash.net/motorsport/wsbk/news/157108-0/hill_joins_honda.html

The Stalker is off to WSS too

http://www.crash.net/motorsport/wsbk/news/157107-0/walker_to_wss.html

James Ellison is back in BSB in 2008.

http://www.motorcyclenews.com/MCN/sport/sportresults/mcn/2007/december/dec3-9/dec0407ellisonbackinbsb/

It seems that going to Motogp isn't the wisest thing to do when you're from Britain. Just see what happened to Shakey, Hodgson and now Ellison...

Interesting. I wonder who replaces him on the Corona bike in AMA? Either way, I hope he goes well. He had a few good rides over here.

Finally somebody coming in to BSB, after a succession of defections to the World scene. I didn't see much value in James going to the US, so a return to a strong team is good news. Not sure how the merger (Bikeanimal and Hydrex, if you haven't read the article) will work, in terms of which personnel remain, but it'll be interesting to see Guy Martin into circuit racing. Is he related to Chris Martin (the 2006 Cup champion, not the singer)?

I'm sure James saw a lot of value in going to the US, being a MotoGP rider his salary would have been enormous, and all he had to do was get a few top 8's and the team would be happy, they knew they werent gonna challenge for wins.

Bet he earned more in 07 than he did for Yamaha!

Steve Plater will ride again on the AIM Yamaha in the 2008 BSB championship. He will also do the World Championship Endurance (with GMT94), the Isle of Man and the North West 200.

Most rides have been taken now, havent they?

To keep the conversation going :)

Confirmed 2008 signings:
HM Plant Honda – Leon Haslam & Cal Crutchlow
Airwaves Ducati – Shane Byrne & Leon Camier
Rizla Suzuki – Tom Sykes & Atsushi Watanabe
SMT Honda - Adam Jenkinson
Hydrex Bike Animal Honda – James Ellison & Guy Martin
AIM Yamaha – Steve Plater
STP MV Agusta – Chris Burns
Relentless by TAS Suzuki – Michael Laverty
JHP Ducati – Michael Rutter

Not confirmed:
Virgin Yamaha - Bill McConnell??
Hydrex Honda - ???
Hawk Kawasaki – Scott Smart?? & James Haydon???
MSS Kawasaki - ???

It was reported in "Australian Motorcycle News" that Billy McConnell has signed with MSS Discovery Kawasaki. Fantastic news for the Aussie if so.

Also read that Karl Harris has signed with Virgin Yamaha...will this be a two-rider team again, or a single rider team like it was for the middle third of 2007??

Hawk are apparantly sticking with Smart & Haydon. No one will agree but good to see James keeping the seat :)

Hydrex Honda has seemingly merged with the old bikeanimal.com team (formerly Red Bull Honda??). Is Guy Martin still going to do road racing?

British Superbike and British Supersport to ride on Pirelli's the next 3 years.

http://www.motorcyclenews.com/MCN/sport/sportresults/mcn/2007/december/dec10-16/dec1307britishsuperbikesandbritishsupersportonpirellis2008/

Good choice I think. Honda probably won't like it as they were the only ones on Michelins the last years (right?).

I hope to see more wildcards in WSBK, like the good old times!

I hope to see more wildcards in WSBK, like the good old times!

I was thinking the same thing (hope it happens).

A pity if the new BSB regulations prevent this (ie..will any of the BSB teams go to the expense of up-speccing the bikes for it?)

Karl Harris has signed a contract with Rob McElnea to ride the Virgin Media Yamaha R1 in BSB.

http://www.motorcyclenews.com/MCN/sport/sportresults/mcn/2008/January/14-20/jan1408harrisgetsbsbride/

and here:

http://link.brightcove.com/services/link/bcpid1119137831/bctid1377894927

This could be a good partnership. Harris is a nice bloke who knows how to ride a bike and Rob McElneas team is one of the most laid back teams with a good know-how! Everybody is on Pirelli's this season and Virgin Yamaha could have a bit of an advantage here as they've already done a season on them.

Harris is the same as Haydon, a crasher, alwasy has been always will be!! Will get the odd good result at tracks he likes, be off the pace and crash everywhere else.

Only thing going for them is the experience they have with Pirelli

I wouldn't necessarely compare Harris with Haydon to be honest. He was moved up and than dropped to quickly by the factory Honda team in BSB. I agree he's not always saddle steady, but I hope and also expect Rob to calm him down a bit. Again, I rate him higher than Haydon, but that could be because I know more about Harris than Haydon. If they can get the Yamaha on the same level as the Honda's and Ducati's I think Harris could challenge for a top 5 in the championship. We'll see.

Harris is the same as Haydon, a crasher, alwasy has been always will be!! Will get the odd good result at tracks he likes, be off the pace and crash everywhere else.

Only thing going for them is the experience they have with Pirelli

harris has 3 supersport titles to his name so you reckon he has done the yards to be good on a superbike - saying that, it will be his 4th (?) year on one aswell... think its good virgin yamaha have a new name on there bike - hope he gets the r1 up there consistently :beer:

Just dont think Harris has done much on some pretty decent bikes really.

Supersport is very different to Superbike, just ask your mate Muggeridge who somehow continues to gain employment despite being truly rubbish on a superbike!!

As for Haydon well, being wealthy and having sponsors helps. As does beig good on telly!

Supersport is very different to Superbike, just ask your mate Muggeridge who somehow continues to gain employment despite being truly rubbish on a superbike!!

true, think mugga's must have the same manager as carlos checa ;)

Ho! Ho! Ho!

Intersting that there's no mention of Virgin sponsoring Harris - makes me assume that they are not backing the BSB operation anymore. This really is Karl's last chance; maybe Yahama/Pirelli will suit him more than the various Hondas. I wonder if it was the Hydrex or Bike Animal arm of the team which didn't want to run him again?