After threatening to abandon MotoGP if he had to ride an Open bike one more season, Scott Redding has landed with his old Moto2 sponsor Marc VDS for a 2015 ride on a Factory Honda.
As his current employer Gresini commits to run the Aprilia effort begining next season, Redding sought a relationship that could assure him what he was promised when he left Moto2 last year, i.e., a Honda factory weapon for his sophomore campaign. Marc VDS is currently running the top 2 riders in Moto2, so it wouldn’t be surprising to see Redding once again mixing it up with the front runners as soon as he gets competitive machinery under their tent.
We described Reddings’ palmares, and it is impressive indeed. Impressive enough to insist on his chosen ride for 2015. Impressive enough to cause Marc Marquez to mention scrapping with him in Moto2.
Marco Simoncelli had a Honda that was the equal of the Repsol machines, and Honda might ensure Redding has one next year, as well. Stay tuned.
Will he fare any better than the current non-factory factory rides? (Bautista, Bradl?) I wish him the best, but would not bet money on it.
I’m sure he will scrap with the Ducs and Tech 3’s but I’m not guessing much more than that.
re: “Honda might ensure Redding has one next year”
Honda will gladly “ensure” anything and everything for those coming off the dime. all others…?
well, need not apply.
in fact, don’t even ring the phone. their caller id automatically pulls a credit report based on the incoming number. if the “price is RIGHT”…? you’ll be talking directly to Nakamoto the person so fast it’ll make your head spin. if the “price is WRONG”…? the system responds with a fake message (albeit pleasant female voice)…
“all circuits are busy, please try your call again later, message 32”
Then the question is, what did Gresini and LCR pay for? It does not appear HRC is giving them much help in keeping those bikes up front.
Re” ” Marco Simoncelli had a Honda that was the equal of the Repsol machines, and Honda might ensure Redding has one next year, as well..”
Honda seems to have assured that no other Honda is competitive with Repsol’s ever since. When was the last time another Honda was top-5 competitive at race distance?