Idea from another forum Would you (HRC, Honda) keep Dani if his contract was up next year? I feel that having stoner there and winning the title and beating Dani more than not, Dani still without a moto GP championship in 6-7 years of trying for Honda and Marc beating him most races I would be supprised if Honda keep him next year unless Dani has a contract for next year As in who to replace him with, there is plenty of good talent out there. Just unsure who would be best Lorenzo would be interesting. To see if he can win a championship on something other than a Yam
Pull Stoner out of retirement,cos that will be one hell of a team line-up. +1 Cal too. Bautista is coming good and maybe Dovi cos he was as good as Cal.
The whole thing needs a shake-up so I think moving Dani out would be a sensible idea. As much as I love MotoGP it's got boring. Same three legging it away and staying there for the whole race. Dani just doesn't seem to have the fight in him to win. Perhaps it's a result of his size but it can't be easy muscling a bike that powerful around when you've only got 8 stone to play with and short levers to boot. Always seems like he's quick at the start and then just runs out of puff. To my mind Dovi's a better overall racer than Dani. He might not have the one-off lap pace but on a race distance he seems to fair better. I'd love to see Valentino back on a Honda as that would give the clearest indication as to whether he's lost it. Sorry to say but watching him run around in 4th just doesn't really cut it when he's on a competitive bike I think that a big rider / team shake-up would at least provide some interesting new permutations when it comes to race day.
I agree with the Cal comments but i'm guessing that Dani is signed up for next year already :-( I also think that Rossi just doesn't have it in him anymore, he's just got that ride for the PR
Remember though that Pedrosa has been teamed up with two freaks of nature for a while now. That's got to skew our perception of his value somewhat. "It's okay Dani. Stoner's gone now and we're putting a rookie on his bike. As long as you don't fall off, this is your chance to shine through. What can possibly go wrong..."
HRC are as ruthless as they come! remember how they ditched Nicky - think he was even current world champion. The only reason they kept Pedrosa is for repsol and spanish connection, said it before the start of the season, now they have marquez, to tick that box, current moto2 champion, awesome style, great fan base, blah blah blah... Dani would be doomed.... now he is spanking him week in week out, i think his time is up.... but then, other than JL who would replace him? depends how they want to set up the team. another reason why i think Cal jumped the gun but hey ho... still bags of talent out there that would do well on that bike.
There were mumbles that the Honda factory really wanted to find a way for Jonny Rea to ride a Honda in motogp next year but they might just be rumours and fanasy's!
Stone face Dani is done, who cares about him any-more since Marquez arrived. There are many very good racer out there to choose from, some of them are already to old for the future Honda team.
Bring back Mick Doohan I say! Now that guy could powerslide a Honda! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2MAsvLcf6W4
Has the UK ever been Dani fans? I don't think so, the only motogp rider with a charisma by-pass. I wonder how many Dani reps Arai sold in the UK before a discount, not many i'll betl I'd like to see Stoner back on the Honda and see how Marquez would do against the great Stoner. Mind you, we said that about a long awaited Rossi v Lorenzo, what happened to that big battle. Sorry, but Rossi is, without doubt one of the greats but he has long gone off the boil. GTG my teas ready
Personally think they will ditch Dani, although his points help them in the constructors league. Replacement wise I think they would be better off with one of the upcoming youngsters from Moto 2. They might go for one of the older well known names just for the sponsorship money. Unless Marquez gives up racing, whoever came in would be running as the also ran for a few years. I would have loved to have seen Cal on that bike, but I do not think he would have been given a chance. I feel sorry for Rossi, it must be really hard when you have been the top dog for so long and see it all slide away from you. I find it a bit like watching a once great boxer continuously trying to make a comeback and ending up hitting the canvas in every fight and hoping that the next fight would be the 'one'. He is still a great rider, he is just not the best in the world anymore. He has a massive fan base and I am not surprised because he was not only a great rider but also a likeable character, and still is.
I believe dani has a contract for next year and as previously said its the Spanish / repsol connection that keeps him there and his manager Puig. Don't think he will get another contract there having said all that. Marquez will go on to be the goat , 100 per cent sure of that. He may never be as popular as Rossi but you never know. As for Rossi back on a Honda , he is a spent force. Yamaha are keeping him for what money he brings. Any other rider in his position would have been moved aside next year to make way for Cal.
Very much like hrc keeping pedrosa for repsol money. Shirt sales fund racing.... Much like football players I guess. Huge vr fan but his time has passed, I think the love from the fans, gazillions in the bank and 9 world titles will help him rest easy that he isn't in his prime. Not sure Marquez will eclipse him though, the dominance Rossi had was something else and very hard to maintain. Wasn't long ago that folk thought Hamilton would win loads of f1 titles, Lorenzo would dominate after stoner, stoner was on the Honda and would win for the next five years. Things can change very quickly in Motorsport. Although I do beleive Marquez has the talent for it, and he's exciting to watch race, which is the main thing.
