With all the major roadracing series (at both the national and international levels) finished competing for the year, everyone wants to know which riders will be going where for 2005. “Silly Season” can be almost as exciting as the racing itself, and is definitely far more confusing. Here’s what is confirmed so far, as well as a few rumors we’ve heard about next season.
Ducati confirmed today that it’s World Superbike team will remain unchanged from the 2004 lineup, while British rider (and 2003 World Superbike Champion) Neil Hodgson will join Eric Bostrom in the US next year to contest the AMA Superbike Championship. In MotoGP, the satellite D’Antin team (which ran Hodgson and Xaus in 2004 on the 2003 factory bikes) is likely (but not certain) to retain Xaus, pairing him with an as-yet-unknown second rider. The factory Ducati MotoGP team will retain Loris Capirossi, teaming him with Carlos Checa for 2005.
Honda, of course, has by far the most riders in MotoGP of any manufacturer. The top Repsol team will pair American Nicky Hayden with Max Biaggi, and as is traditional will receive prototype HRC parts before the other teams. It is believed that HRC’s agreement with Repsol allows them to support one other Honda with the same level of parts they provide to the Repsol riders; this will of course be 2004 championship runner-up Sete Gibernau. Gibernau was first rumored to be paired with Alex Barros on the Telefonica-liveried Hondas, but recent rumors suggest that Marco Melandri may team with Gibernau instead, with Barros headed to the Camel Honda team. It is this Camel squad whose lineup is the most questionable – rumors say Barros may be there, alongside Troy Bayliss, but nothing is certain at this point.
You may have noticed that I haven’t mentioned Makoto Tamada yet. This is because the talented Japanese rider (a multi-race winner in 04) is rumored to have his own team, running a satellite Honda and sponsored by Konica Minolta.
Yamaha will of course run the factory Gauloises team, pairing world champ Valentino Rossi with recent acquisition Colin Edwards. Yamaha will also run a two-bike satellite team (in Fortuna colors) but who the riders will be is yet to be determined.
Suzuki returns with John Hopkins and Kenny Roberts Jr, and Kawasaki is also likely to retain their ’04 lineup into ’05.
Since the Piaggio buyout earlier this year, Aprilia has been involved in some financial re-organization. At this point it is uncertain whether the Cube will return to MotoGP next season.
In other MotoGP news, Max Biaggi reportedly broke his leg riding a supermoto bike today, and will be absent from testing for at least one month.
