Skip to main content
Home

MotoMatters.com | Kropotkin Thinks

... that upgrading a website takes longer than you think

User Menu

  • Log in

Tools

  • Home
    • Contact
  • Subscriber Content
  • Round Ups
  • Features
    • Analysis
    • Interviews
    • Opinion
  • Photos
  • More
    • Search
    • Riders & Teams
      • 2023 MotoGP Rider Line Up So Far
      • 2022 Provisional MotoGP Rider Line Up
      • 2022 Provisional Moto2 Rider Line Up
      • 2022 Provisional Moto3 Rider Line Up
    • Calendars
      • 2022 Provisional MotoGP Calendar
      • 2022 Provisional WorldSBK Calendar
      • 2023 Provisional WorldSBK Calendar
    • Championship Standings
      • MotoGP Standings
      • Moto2 Standings
      • Moto3 Standings
      • MotoE Standings
      • WorldSBK Standings
      • WorldSSP Standings
    • Race Results
      • MotoGP Race Results
      • Moto2 Race Results
      • Moto3 Race Results
      • MotoE Race Results
      • WorldSBK Race Results
      • WorldSSP Race Results
  • Subscribe!
  • Patreon

Breadcrumb

  • Home

7 Hondas On The Grid In 2010 - But Who Will Be The 7th?

By David Emmett | Thu, 15/10/2009 - 15:05

With the announcement at Estoril that Hiroshi Aoyama is to ascend to the MotoGP class aboard a Honda RC212V in a team run by Daniel Epp, the man behind the current Caffe Latte team in the 250 class, the number of Hondas on the grid for 2010 increased from six to seven. The team is to be sponsored in part by the Swiss iced coffee company Caffe Latte, but the effort is also to be heavily supported by Honda. HRC have a long tradition of keeping a Japanese rider in the MotoGP class and were keen to find a replacement for Yuki Takahashi, who was muscled out at Team Scot and replaced by Gabor Talmacsi, the Hungarian bringing a badly-needed injection of funds to the cash-strapped team. With Hiroshi Aoyama edging ever closer to becoming Japan's first World Champion since the much-lamented Daijiro Katoh in 2001, and doing so on board an aging Honda RS250RW, the Japanese rider seems not only the logical choice, but also a highly deserving one.

The Caffe Latte RC212V will be an additional Honda on the grid, but the final line-up for the marque is still not entirely finalized. Honda expect to field seven bikes, and six of them have been settled: The factory Repsol team will see Dani Pedrosa and Andrea Dovizioso return - though Dovizioso's current crew chief Pete Benson is believed to have been ousted, and is looking for work elsewhere; The San Carlo Gresini team will field the two Marcos, Melandri aboard a factory and Simoncelli riding a satellite spec bike; Randy de Puniet will make a return at LCR Honda, riding the new pseudo-factory satellite spec RC212V; And Aoyama's Caffe Latte bike will make 6.

The 7th bike is still to be determined. That bike is currently in the hands of Gabor Talmacsi and the Team Scot effort, but HRC is widely believed to be unhappy with the way the Hungarian has performed. Talmacsi has been given a certain amount of leeway, as the former 125cc World Champion jumped on a MotoGP bike almost directly from the 125cc class. The Hungarian had started the year with the Aspar-run Team Balatonring, riding an Aprilia RSA 250. But a dispute over image rights - a highly lucrative affair for Talmacsi, who is a huge superstar in Hungary - saw Talmacsi leave the team before Le Mans, moving up to the MotoGP class for the first time at Barcelona. With little experience of a 250, the leap to a MotoGP bike has been huge, perhaps too much for Talmacsi in the short time he's had to ride.

But HRC's patience is not boundless, and the end is looking increasingly near for Talmacsi and the Team Scot effort. The team is chronically short of funds - Aoyama's world championship challenge has been done on a shoestring, with just a single, outdated bike - and Talmacsi remains stubbornly two and a half seconds off the pace at the front. Honda are believed to regard Talmacsi very low on their list of priorities for next season, and recent press reports in the German-language magazine Speedweek suggest that Talmacsi may be looking towards Moto2 for 2010.

In his place, the final Honda could well end up at Team LCR, Lucio Cecchinello's long-standing wish to expand the team from one to two riders finally being fulfilled. The question of who that second rider might be is still very much open to question. With five Spaniard and five Italians already entered for next season, Dorna will be keen to get a fresh nationality into the class. The loss of James Toseland means that MotoGP will not have a British rider in the premier class for the first time in living memory. But a replacement Brit will be hard to find, the promising candidates either still in the 125 class, or already otherwise engaged in World Superbikes.

Other nationalities suffer a similar problem, with no obvious candidates knocking at the door. The name of John Hopkins has been linked to the FB Corse project due to enter the class for next season, along with riders on their way out, Alex de Angelis and Toni Elias. Elias is believed to be close to a deal to go and race in the Moto2 class for next season, while doubts linger over Hopkins' propensity for sustaining injuries. De Angelis is the rider most likely to pick up an additional Honda - his nationality would certainly help LCR, should the team get an extra bike, but Dorna may balk at the idea of 11 Mediterranean riders, out of between 18 and 20, depending on the FB Corse program. It may well be that the MotoGP grid is finalized only at Valencia, or perhaps even later than that.

MotoGP
Honda
Andrea Dovizioso
Dani Pedrosa
Alex de Angelis
Randy de Puniet
Toni Elias
Gabor Talmacsi
  • Log in or register to post comments

If you enjoyed this article, please consider supporting MotoMatters.com. You can help by either taking out a subscription, supporting us on Patreon, by making a donation, or contributing via our GoFundMe page. You can find out more about subscribing to MotoMatters.com here.

↑Back to top

Comments

Profile picture for user Jerry Osborne

Jerry Osborne

13 years 3 months ago

Permalink

Benson

Pete Benson may be out? I have always had a concern about Benson's skill but have never found anythign to substantiate that concern other than mediocre results for what should be the premier factory bike.

Anyway, I think LCR is a great home for another bike. With Bridgestones under them, I think they have shown that they are more than just a grid-filler and Cecchinello seems to have a unique and successful approach to running a team.

  • Log in or register to post comments

The Phantom

13 years 3 months ago

Permalink

Benson had a good run there

Benson has had some prime riders and bikes to work with over the years, that much is certain. Perhaps his departure from Repsol Honda is related to one A. Puig rather than any issues that Honda may have had with him? Although it is of course easy to peg Puig as the instigator given his reputation. I'm sure that the other teams would find it quite attractive to get Benson on board - any former HRC technical staff would have to be attractive to team bosses and a highly experienced HRC crew chief doesn't come onto the market very often.

As for a rider for the second LCR bike (here's hoping that that's where it goes) - personally I'd love to have seen Vermeulen go there and maybe he did discuss it with Lucio and ran out of time, but I reckon Mike Di Meglio deserves consideration for MotoGP, and two Frenchmen in MotoGP would have to be of interest to Dorna, sponsors and no doubt the huge French audience.

By the way - thank you for some MotoGP content! The WSB updates are great but it seems like there's been a bit of a drought for MGP, and I'm really really really holding out for the PI preview, and any associated info you can give us...

  • Log in or register to post comments
Profile picture for user Rusty Bucket USA

Rusty Bucket USA

13 years 3 months ago

Permalink

In reply to Benson had a good run there by The Phantom

He should talk to Suppo.

"I'm sure that the other teams would find it quite attractive to get Benson on board - any former HRC technical staff would have to be attractive to team bosses and a highly experienced HRC crew chief doesn't come onto the market very often."

Like maybe Ducati, perhaps?

  • Log in or register to post comments

rumerz.com (not verified)

13 years 3 months ago

Permalink

Blame Puig

"Perhaps his departure from Repsol Honda is related to one A. Puig rather than any issues that Honda may have had with him?"

I'll sleep better tonight knowing there's someone out there more delusional than me.

  • Log in or register to post comments
Profile picture for user Irongut
United Kingdom
YAMAHA

Irongut

13 years 3 months ago

Permalink

Very short memory

"The loss of James Toseland means that MotoGP will not have a British rider in the premier class for the first time in living memory."

So you're 2 years old? There was no British rider on the grid in 2007.

I don't know why Dorna and the BBC make such a fuss over having a British rider. I don't care if there's a Brit on the grid and I suspect the hordes of yellow clad Rossi fans at Donington every year don't either.

  • Log in or register to post comments

David Emmett

13 years 3 months ago

Permalink

In reply to Very short memory by Irongut

McWilliams and Davies

Jeremy McWilliams started the 2007 season on board the Ilmor, though the bikes only entered the first race. Chaz Davies later finished off the season on board the Pramac Ducati, though he didn't score any points.

  • Log in or register to post comments
Profile picture for user Irongut
United Kingdom
YAMAHA

Irongut

13 years 3 months ago

Permalink

In reply to McWilliams and Davies by David Emmett

Doh!

I wouldn't count the doomed before they started 1 race (in 2007) Ilmor entry but I'll give you Chas Davies. I had forgotten about him.

Still for most of that season there was no British rider and it made no difference to my enjoyment of the season.

  • Log in or register to post comments

David Emmett

13 years 3 months ago

Permalink

In reply to Doh! by Irongut

I would agree

I would agree with you, but the BBC believe that if they are to capture the interest of the casual viewer, they need a British rider for those viewers to root for. Though just how attractive the prospect of a British rider running around in 11th place is to a casual viewer has to be debatable. 

  • Log in or register to post comments

ElBigonio

13 years 3 months ago

Permalink

Pete Benson and Nicky Reunion in the works?

It could happen.

  • Log in or register to post comments

Log In or Register

  • Create new account
  • Reset your password

MotoGP.com latest

  • Pirro puts Ducati on top as Shakedown Test ends
  • What can we expect from 2023's MotoGP™ sophomores?
  • Yamaha top as rain affects testing schedules on Day 2
  • Yamaha top as rain effects testing schedules on Day 2
More

Follow MotoMatters on Twitter


Mastodon

MotoGP Technology

Buy Neil Spalding's essential guide to the technology of MotoGP bikes, MotoGP Technology.

Recent comments

  • https://twitter.com…
    3 hours 32 minutes ago
  • Yes, front is still allowed…
    6 hours 21 minutes ago
  • Thanks David. That's my…
    8 hours 35 minutes ago
  • Small screen orientation
    12 hours 30 minutes ago
  • Perspective
    12 hours 42 minutes ago

All content copyright of MotoMatters.com unless otherwise stated. MotoGP is a trademark of Dorna Sports s.l. and MotoMatters.com is not associated with it.

Site hosted by