The final provisional (we don’t make this stuff up) entry list for the Moto GP season has been released by the FIM, with no further changes beyond what we’ve reported in the past. The final numbers for the big class show a sad 18 entrants, as follows.
Six Hondas: Dani Pedrosa and Andrea Dovizioso on the factory Repsol team, joined by the "privateer" teams of LCR Honda with Randy de Puniet, the San Carlo Gresini team with Alex de Angelis and Tony Elias, and the Scot Racing team with Yuki Takahashi.
Five Ducatis: the factory Alice team of Casey Stoner and Nicky Hayden, joined by newbies Niccola Canepa and Mika Kallio on the Pramac team, plus retread Sete Gibernau on the Guinea Equatorial Team.
Two Suzukis: factory Rizla bikes only, for Chris Vermeulen and Loris Capirossi.
Four Yamahas: factory Fiat-sponsored bikes for Valentino Rossi and Jorge Lorenzo, plus Monster Tech 3 bikes for Colin Edwards and James Toseland.
And one Bike That Used to be Known as Kawasaki, the Hayate, for Marco Melandri.
Frankly, why half these guys have a ride while John Hopkins is sitting around picking his nose is beyond us, but once again, nobody asked the CMG brain trust. Go figure.
Sadly, the way things look we’d recommend that you make the World Superbike races your priority this season.
WSB might be better this year, so far sounds like the racing should be close but isn’t it too early to tell? The new firing-ordered R1 seems to have a great jump on t’others this year. It’s always enjoyable anyway. However, the Rossi/Stoner duel sounds exciting too: better power/aerodynamics versus more agility, and from what I can see, best rider – Vale – versus second best – Casey. Also interesting is whether Pedrosa will improve or be superceded by Lorenzo. Lesser concerns are Hayden on the longish Ducati, and Dovisioso exceeding the potential he showed as a beginner last year.
Hopkins has a ride – Stiggy Honda.. He’ll be in the next WSB round.
Spies to win 90%? I’ll take that bet.
Hopkins should start practising for his next gig, “Do you want fries with that?”
WSB? Exciting? Expect Spies to win 90% of the races.
Make that Hopkins.
Maybe Kawi Canada can hook Hopper up to give Jordan some competition here in the Parts Canada Series ????
Here’s to hoping that Hopper gets a World Superbike ride..