Who replaces Stoner at Honda Repsol 2013??

[Jaouad]

Who do you guys think will replace Stoner?

[Prilliant03]

Welcome newbcakes

Your poll leaves out one of my personal preferences. Alvaro Bautista has to be a possibility for the vacant seat.

I suspect both Rossi and Dovi have burnt their bridges at Honda, certainly the factory team. Rossi may appeal to LCR from a sponsorship point of view.

I'd love to see Crutchlow get the Repsol ride but suspect Bradl is a more likely candidate.

[cggunnersmate]

Good question, will depend on many factors.

You know they'll go after Jorge, so it could become a bidding war between Honda and Yamaha. If Jorge wins the title this year I see him staying with Yamaha. If he loses to Stoner then I think the odds of him switching to Honda will go up but by no means guarenteed.

Sounds like from the latest reports that Honda doesn't particularly want Rossi on the factory team but a satellite ride is an option if he and a team want it. So I think the odds of him staying at Ducati my have improved, unless his performance on the Ducati doesn't improve appreciably by the end of the year and how badly he wants to win again. Then it'll likely be a satellite ride for him, unless Honda lures Jorge and Yamaha decides to take Rossi back. Now that's a cool idea. 2013 Season, Lorenzo on a Honda vs Rossi on a Yamaha. I'd like to see that.

If Honda can't get Jorge then I'd say it'll likely go to Bradl. I don't see Honda taking the chance on Crutchlow or any former SBK rider at this point and both he and Dovi will be looking to take Ben's seat next year.

[sburns2421]

Lorenzo has already signed with Yamaha as of this morning
http://www.superbikeplanet.com/2012/Jun/120612a.htm

So the two best riders are spoken for, Lorenzo and Stoner. Pedrosa's leverage on Honda just increased by quite a bit.

Maybe Yamaha could really pull a fast one and sign Dani to the factory team as well, that would really put HRC in a tough spot. I don't see any other riders (Bautista, Bradl, Dovi, Cal, Spies, even Rossi) challenging for a championship next year.

[cggunnersmate]

IF Yamaha managed to get Dani (which I find HIGHLY unlikely, he's too much of a Honda guy and Puig probably wouldn't stand for it either, though thankfully his influence seems to have greatly diminished) then I wouldn't be suprised if Honda suddenly had a change of heart and signed Rossi. In which case he would be a title threat. Hell, if he were on a satellite Honda or Yamaha this year he'd probably be a title threat.

I don't see Honda letting Dani go any time soon, at least not until Marquez has moved up and shown promise on the satellite Honda. So really, Bradl is their likely option for next year. I think Dovi's bridge was burned when he (rightfully) forced them to honor his contract and keep him on the factory team last year and then let him go at the end of the season.

Crutchlow probably won't seem like a sure enough bet to them, Spies either. If they stick with keeping the door closed to Rossi then Bradl is the only real option. Bautista has done okay, but not substantially better than he did on the Suzuki and Bradl has been performing better in his rookie year.

I'd still love to see a Rossi VS Lorenzo / Honda VS Yamaha battle next year, regardless of which team either rider rode for. Though it would be kind of cool to see Rossi finish his career riding for the same team he started out on in the premiere class.

[Tdawg]

Yamaha has signed Lorenzo for 2013/14. Bautista would be cool and no rookie rule. Then Bradl and Marquez imho

PR
http://www.yamaha-racing.com/Racing/...3%20and%202014

[Punter]

Bradl.

[Diablo1]

Honda ought to sign up Max Biaggi just to fook with Rossi's head.....

[zgriders]

Marquez, after they change the rules

[Prilliant03]

Marquez, after they change the rules

Might've been a possibility in the past, but not after the Suzuki/Bautista fiasco. Ezpeleta has already made this abundantly clear.

[ckruzel]

i doubt honda would lease a bike to lcr if rossi was there rider, once you badmouth honda, your pretty much blackballed for life

[rs250slowpoke]

Bradl. He has a bright future ahead.

[igotyofire]

that dude in control of honda motogp efforts, said rossi is not allowed on a factory honda team, only a satellite honda, whats his name namaoto or somthing

[tasosm]

Ezpeleta said that he will discuss the rookie rule so they probably bent the rule.

[Prilliant03]

They bent the rule to allow Bautista a seat on the factory Suzuki, on the promise that Suzuki would stay in MotoGP. And where are Suzuki now?

If Ezpeleta allows the rule to be bent again he will lose what little credibility he has left.