Despite the fact the bike is yet to be presented officially, news is all over the internet and elsewhere that Garry McCoy is to be the rider for the FB Corse team in 2010. Just days after hearing that he had been dropped by BE1's factory-backed Triumph World Supersport squad, McCoy is back in the saddle, and back in MotoGP.
The opportunity came about as a result of the maneuvering surrounding John Hopkins. Hopkins was the rider FB Corse had originally planned to sign, but after the team declined to allow Hopper to test the Italian-designed triple before signing a contract, Hopkins decided to play it safe, taking a ride on the Team M4 Suzuki with backing from his personal sponsor Monster Energy. Once Hopkins' intentions were clear, FB Corse went looking for a replacement, and contacted McCoy by phone last Wednesday. The Australian veteran was on a plane to Italy in a thrice, and the deal was done before the weekend was out, rumors of which had been picked up on Friday.
According to Motorcycle News, McCoy's deal with FB Corse is for two years. The Australian will spend the first year concentrating on developing the bike, while the team is hoping to contest a full and competitive season in 2011. It is as yet unclear just how many races the FB Corse team will actually campaign this season, though previous reports had stated that the team would make at least three wildcard appearances. The bike has to be inspected and approved by Dorna before being allowed to compete, but with just 17 bikes currently on the grid, that approval process is not too much more than a formality.
Comments
Hmm...
I admit to having doubts owing to his age and his riding style meshing with modern MotoGP bikes. That said, I hope he does well and that we get to see some of the McCoy that astounded everyone years ago. It'll be good to have characters like him in the series again.
And I Thought...
I'd never see the man in MotoGP again. This is thrilling for that alone.
I certainly hope that they can at least get the bike on the grid for all of 2011 even if just to be abe to qualify in the 107%.
The Go-to man
The McCoy saga rolls on.. one of the small wonders of motoGp bike racing, I think. In an interview not so long ago he commented that he couldn't understand how it was that he'd never really had the chance at running on a top-flight bike, and certainly in his case I reckon a lot of us share that opinion - an undoubted and proven talent, well-liked and pretty much guaranteed to get camera-time for a sponsor, one has to think that his story supports the idea that there is some truth in the 'wrong passport' argument.
I just hope that the FB Corse project provides a bike that will give enough to let him show some sparkle. The best jockey in the world can't get a totally dead horse to the post.
In reply to The Go-to man by Oscar
Amen, brother.
As you already know, I agree with you... up to a point. I don't know if his passport was a liability back then, as much as Michelin stopped making the "McCoy Specials" that no one else could use. When they decided to make him buy "off the rack" (which doesn't seem like that could have been because Red Bull wouldn't pony up), he started going backwards and crashing.
It would have been a real coup if Dunlop had found some magic for him that year with the Green Pig, but alas... no such luck.
I posited years ago that McCoy and Elias would make marketing gold for an otherwise underfunded team. Here's to reviving that hope in '11!
Huzzah!
Seriously, McCoy needs to be in MotoGP. Where Elias got a break McCoy should have been all along. Even if it is Moto2, I am glad to see him back!
Did it really take...
a week for my prediction to come true?
Here's to hoping he can figure something out on the spec BS tires, and that they don't have to scrap their bike in the next formula change.
The Wrong Passport
probably wasn't such an issue back then, Rats, as you say - Aussies were in good repute after Gardner, Doohan and to a lesser degree Beattie had cemented the fact that a good Aussie could be highly competitive. Gazza, Westie, Mladin, Bayliss and a few others all got a chance to try racing in the top rung and it's not as if there weren't other very good riders from other countries around, I'm not arguing for a moment that Aussies are automatically discounted.
However, national sponsorship of the sort that one understands help the Talmacsi's and others just doesn't exist for Aussies, as far as I'm aware - the exception in motorsport being Mark Webber who did get a leg-up from a national sponsor. I can't even think of one serious Aussie sponsor for Stoner! So, when $$ can make the difference, it can be a bigger battle for those who come from countries that don't 'value' their riding heroes - and that isn't just the land down under, by any means....
I don't think it is just an accident that Aussies seem to fare well in Ducati teams, I believe we're one of the biggest markets for Ducs. Hell, I even saw a couple of weeks ago a Desmosedici parked outside a small average country roadside service station / restaurant that had been DROPPED! We buy 'em and ride 'em...
The wrong passport
Come on guys, there is no such thing as "wrong passport".
Gazza McCoy is definitely a very talented, likeable rider and I love his sideways style as much as the next fan but I don't think he's been passed over because he's an Aussie.
A lot of other non-talent related things happen that have a negative effect on a rider's career, but its often is easy to pull the nationality card as an excuse.
Maybe the right passport will get a rider an opportunity, but only results will keep him in place after a while. Look at Angel Nieto's 2 sons and nephew. Gelete, Pablo and Fonsi have all had GP opportunities in 125cc and Fonsi even won races in 250cc, but neither Angel's influece nor their being Spanish has kept them in GP racing.
I think there is no question that Elias is talented, but his inconsitency has finally cost him a MotoGP ride even as 7th overall and second best privateer.
Much has been said of Edwards staying in the class because of Rossi's support, but just look at his results last year and how he shredded Toseland.
Lets face it, at any top level endevor you either deliver or you are out.
In reply to The wrong passport by ricky
Then explain all of Carlos
Then explain all of Carlos Checa's years of lackluster achievement?
Excluding his first year,
Excluding his first year, Checa spent 9 seasons on 500s and MotoGp always finishing the championship between 8th and 4th place. Thats definitely not Rossi performance, but not that shabby either.
I don't think he was hired into the Ten Cate WSBK team because of his nationality as WSBK following is, unfortunately, very marginal in Spain. But he has clearly failed to perform and has been let go, so it all seems pretty fair.
Also remeber taht other Spanish riders like Greg Lavilla and Ruben Xaus have failed to make an impression in GP teams and have had to migrate to other championships.
Frankly I don't know which British or Australian riders were kept out of GPs because Checa maintained his spot, but a lot of the top British riders just seem to prefer to stick with BSB and WSBK than move to GPs. I hope Crutchlow will eventually be an exception because it is a pity that the top SS rider is not in Moto2 this year.