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Not all marriages are destined to last forever, and it would appear that the end of the relationship between Sete Gibernau and the Honda factory could be just around the corner. It's rumor-time folks, and it's warming up in the MotoGP paddock.
Reports over the weekend in both Italy and Spain, suggest that the double vice-champion has agreed on a deal with Ducati to ride the Desmosedici for the next two years, the salary thought to be in the region of four million euros.
The Phillip Morris Group—parent company for the Marlboro brand—are said to be picking up the tab, and with the Borgo Panigale based factory attempting to keep Loris Capirossi on the second bike for a further season, Ducati are looking to run their version of the premier class "Dream Team".
Gibernau is reported to have visited the Italian factory last week and spoken in length to Ducati Corse CEO Claudio Domenicali and the rest of the Ducati hierarchy, and also to leading members of the Bridgestone development team about the Euro/Japanese project and the deal is, apparently, all but done—say the euro sages.
Some weeks ago, when Pedrosa was all but announced officially as a Repsol rider for next season, and with Telefonica therefore losing their golden child, Gibernau's situation at Honda started looking precarious. Without the guarantee of a factory bike and support for 2006, and with the young guns coming through the ranks, Sete's winless season thus far looks set to bite him hard.
With Telefonica reportedly looking to move their sponsorship to Formula One—in an effort to back Spanish hero Fernando Alonso who looks set to become the first ever Spanish F1 world champion—Gibernau's salary options at Honda would be limited.
Also, comments made by Gibernau at Brno, following his retirement on the last lap after running out of fuel (allegedly), didn't sit well with HRC officials. If reports are correct, there was an exchange of words, some furrowed Japanese brows and a disgruntled Spanish rider, fuelling the speculation of a move to Ducati.
Melandri looks likely to be the recipient of the third "factory slot", originally granted to Daijiro Kato and Fausto Gresini by HRC, should the mighty red machine continue with their current approach to bike distribution; again, no word from Honda as of yet.
At this stage, the so called "discussions" between Luca Montiron, Dorna and HRC—to run a second bike with an Italian pilot—seem to have lead nowhere if the rumors are to be believed. HRC are reportedly planning to run a maximum of seven machines again for 2006, although there has been no official word and Makoto Tamada is said to be all but confirmed to race for the team again next season.
If it is confirmed that Telefonica are to remove their support, and with Altadis looking set to remove their backing from Yamaha if Rossi brings in his own sponsor, the word is that Altadis are looking to back Gresini's Italian squad for next season. That of course will open a place alongside Melandri in the satellite team (with Sete gone) and it is almost a certainty that Fortuna would want a Spaniard on the second bike.
Carlos Checa and Toni Elias seem to be the leading contenders to run in Fortuna colors alongside Melandri. Elias is looking the most likely to continue his association with the Fortuna brand with age on his side compared to the veteran Checa, and Toni has impressed, when fit, on the satellite Yamaha M1 this year.
Suzuki is still to announce who will partner John Hopkins for 2006 and the future for Troy Bayliss in MotoGP is still a story waiting to happen, the latest has him back in WSBK for 2006 on what looks set to be a Ducati.
Capirossi seems to be the most talked about rider at the moment in rumor-land, alongside, of course, Gibernau.
The Spanish press hounds are reporting that that the diminutive Italian has had a serious offer from Kawasaki to run alongside Shinya Nakano on the factory Ninja ZX-RR, although Olivier Jacque is also mentioned in despatches.
However, Capirossi is said to want a return to Honda and Michelin tires, but Biaggi's name is being banded about in relation to the second Pons slot so just where does Capirossi's future lie if a Ducati contract isn't signed?
And, where do Ducati get an Italian pilot for the second bike should Loris de-camp elsewhere?
If Altadis move to Gresini's corner, it would give more credence to the well-touted rumor that Alice will back a factory Yamaha team. The word has been that Valentino Rossi will run in a one-man team, with Jerry Burgess calling the shots from the garage, but Rossi has intimated that he wants Colin Edwards as a team-mate.
Dorna's grid slot policy—where officially there is supposed to be twelve two-man teams—hasn't always been adhered to. We have seen leased slots and places "found" to run additional teams, Konica Minolta Honda a prime example.
It is highly unlikely that the factory Yamaha team could run from the same garage with different sponsors, and if Altadis do remove their money from Yamaha, where would that leave Colin Edwards (who has a Yamaha contract through 2006) should Rossi run solo? Would the factory run the American in a "Team Yamaha" set-up?
The Texan of course ran in Alice colors whilst riding for Aprilia in 2003, so a two-man Alice Yamaha team looks a strong possibility depending on what happens with Rossi, the pairing are the main men with Michelin and their product development.
There is no word on a satellite Yamaha team for next season, no confirmation that Kawasaki will run four bikes (although that is a strong rumor) and the plans for the Tech 3 team and the D'antin Pramac squad are still unknown.
Suzuki is still to announce who will partner John Hopkins for 2006 and the future for Troy Bayliss in MotoGP is still a story waiting to happen, the latest has him back in WSBK for 2006 on what looks set to be a Ducati.
And, what of Max Biaggi should a Honda ride not be forthcoming?
Again, we reiterate, there is no official statement from Yamaha, Ducati, Sete Gibernau, or indeed any of the movers and shakers mentioned here; it is but a rumor-fest, but interesting nonetheless.
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