gp rumour mill

[sneakypete]

lifted from elsewhere

MOTOGP
- Randy de Puniet to LCR. Remember RdP and LCR have worked together (quite successfully) in 2003, 2004 in the 250 class.
- Andrea Dovizioso looks like going to a 'new' Honda team, Kopron Team Scot (his 250 team) as they merge with JiR.
- There may be good news for you all, there may well be three works Kawasaki's next year, two Monster Energy sponsored bikes for John Hopkins and Ant West and a Konica Minolta sponsored bike for Shinya Nakano.
- D'Antin Ducati are close to signing Hiroshi Aoyama according to the Spanish press.

250cc
- Firstly, KTM are probably going to disband their factory team with the factory bikes going to Alberto Puig. Repsol Team Puig KTM will likely run three bikes, one for Julian Simon, the other two are open. It's rumoured KTM have offered Alvaro Bautista 2 Million Euros to lead the team.
- Honda will have no works bikes in the 125 or 250 class in 2008. They are waiting for the switch to four-strokes which may happen as soon as 2009 or 2010.
- Aprilia have offered Alvaro Bautista the number 1 factory position if he stays.
- The Aspar team look like promoting Hector Faubel to the 250 class.
- Thomas Luthi will be back at Caffe Latte Elit Aprilia.
- Fortuna Aprilia may expand back to two bikes. Alex Debon is confirmed, the second ride is open with Aleix Espargaro and Hector Barbera being linked by the Spanish press.
- Mika Kallio is reportedly looking for an Aprilia ride next year.

125cc
- As mentioned above Hector Faubel looks set to step up to the 250 class.
- Mattia Pasini and his team also are looking to step up to the 250 class.
- Lukas Pesek and Derbi are also looking to step up in 2008. The Derbi will be a re-badged Aprilia (much like the 125)
- Gabor Talmacsi has an offer to remain at the Aspar 125 team (his last year eligible) but also has an offer to step up to the 250's with the Caffe Latte Elit Aprilia team.
- Aspar Aprilia have resigned Sergio Gadea and are also likely to sign Pere Tatusaus. Bradley Smith has been linked with a move here but that seems dead.
- Stefan Bradl has been guaranteed a factory Aprilia for '08. It will probably be run by the Kiefer Racing team (remember them?)
- As in the 250 class, there looks to be no 'factory' KTM team. Instead they plan on supplying six factory bikes to be run by independant teams.
- One of those teams will be the Repsol Puig team. They look like keeping both Bradley Smith and Esteve Rabat.
- Two more factory KTM's look set for the Spanish BQR team (currently Blusens Aprilia).

[Zoidberg]

Love the prospect of a 3-pronged Kwak line up next year. Really hope that comes off. The more green bikes, the better.