According to crash.net SBK rookie Chris Vermeulen will get an official MotoGP test with HRC at season's end against Hayden and Barros with an eye towards a MotoGP ride in 2006. The kid looks like The Real Deal at this point so current Honda pilots better go win their championships right now, time's running out!
In WSS and WSBK CV has proved himself adaptable, a fast learner capable of developing a bike. I think in another year or so he could be a more than competitive MotoGP rider. Pity he won't have Jeremy Burgess to mentor him in MGP, that man knows how to get the best from a rider.
I don't know if Ten Kata will let him go without a fight.
Steve McKinley
'03 Ash Futura
'04 BMW R 1150 RT Black
IBA
It wouldn't surprise me to see HRC already having an option on Chris, and while they are independently owned Ten Kate will be anxious to maintain their very close working relationship with Honda.
As good as CV is, it would be too soon to stick him on an RCV next year. Ten Kate could win the superbike championship with CV and another rider. I would bet that Ten Kate receives more substantial factory support next year. There will probably be a real shakeup of MotoGP riders for next season. I wouldn't be surprised to see some riders fall back to World Superbike.
Ride safe.
Not in MotoGP next year, the season after. But a test of the RC211V at the end of 2004.
His future looks very bright indeed. For his age, he has a great head onhis shoulders too
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A bit undervaluing Chris's talents here, he's the only Honda rider in a competiton favouring Ducati. He may have support from the factory but Ten Kate do most of their on R&D work as they can't, or at a minimal, leverage the work from Honda USA due to differences in rules. What does this mean...he can develop a motorcycle and therefore able to come to terms with a MotoGp (may not win but won't languish either).Originally posted by BikerGeek
As good as CV is, it would be too soon to stick him on an RCV next year. Ten Kate could win the superbike championship with CV and another rider.
Ride safe.
I have a strong suspicion that Ten Kate will move up to MotoGP and become the new factory team in the next few years...hopefully with Chris on board.
As it stands, Karl Muggeridge and Chris Vermeulen will be the Ten Kate WSB riders next year....maybe MotoGp in 2006?
Being an independent Ten Kate would never be allowed access to the deepest secrets of Honda's R & D realm. They could conceivably go as a satellite team ala Gresini or Pons for sure but beyond that is HRC only.
Ten Kate doesn't have the funds, prestige or clout to run in MotoGP(yet). A grid spot in MotoGP is near impossible to obtain. An existing Honda team would have to give their grid places away to allow Ten Kate in. I can't see that happening.
Ten Kate with CV and Muggeridge could win the Superbike crown and possibly win Honda the manufacturer's trophy in '05.
I am not a Honda fan. But I am a big fan of Ten Kate and would love to own a street legal version of their 600 or 1000.
Ride safe.
Deepest darkest secrets of HRC, l'd challenge that as Ten Kate is the unoffical Honda team in WSB and they we're offered the the HRC spec Fireblade prior to the start of the WSB season but chose to develop with the assistance of Honda due to the difference in rules between WSB and AMA/BSB. If you noticed in the Ten Kate pit's, you'll see a HRC engine and chassis engineers.
As a subnote, Honda did pullout of WSB saying that they won't field an 'offical factory team but make no mistake about it, Ten Kate is the Honda factory team without the 'offical' tag.
Will they displace the HRC/Repsol team? Probably not as HRC like to control their team but if the offical team keeps producing results like they have this season...opportunity might be there?? Running as a satellite would require nudging the existing satellite teams or extending the grid; KTM and BMW will be field teams soon???
I'm like BikerGeek, Ten Kate team would have to be one of the most professional teams in motorcycle racing in the world
As Honda sees the chance of winning the 2003 SBK title now they've taken added interest in Ten Kate's efforts, thus the extra HRC personnel these days. But it's still a Dutch-run team with people working for Ten Kate and not Honda proper. An HRC team is ALL Honda employees, they have full control over everybody. In MotoGP the Repsol team is HRC's and all those folks draw a Honda paycheck. Other teams running Hondas are privately owned with some degree of HRC assistance, but those are the guys always complaining about having to wait for this part or that. That's because they aren't Honda's employees, they will get what they get when Big Red is ready to give it to them.
100% true that Ten Kate is a fantastic outfit, no question at all of that!
Last edited by Ricky J; 08-19-2004 at 01:11 AM.
sometimes having less HRC technicians in the garage is a good thing
the have a reputation of looking more at the data and not listening to the rider.
Correct Clarkie....thats what made Jeremy Burgess so good!!!Originally posted by clarkie49
sometimes having less HRC technicians in the garage is a good thing
the have a reputation of looking more at the data and not listening to the rider.
Look at the last WSB Honda Factory, a team controlled by Neil Tuxworth from the British based Castrol Honda Team?
i know when Slighty first went to Suzuka on the Honda RC45 and would get the bike setup the HRC technicians would change the bike back to the HRC specs overnight.
everyday the Team would spend the first hour re-setting the bike up to what the finished the day before with.
the HRC guys would say 'But computer says it will work best like this"
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