So here is where we are so far. Yesterday Yamaha announced (finally) that Cal Crutchlow was off to MotoGP taking over from Ben Spies at Tech3. This morning I received an email from Yamaha announcing their signing of none other one Marco Melandri. I thought this was quite interesting as I kinda half expected that Noriyuki Haga might return to Yamaha(or maybe I just wished he would)since Ducati has announced that they would no longer be talking part in the WSBK championship next year.
Add to the rumour mill James Toseland telling Eurosport yesterday he was actively seeking a new ride as Yamaha wanted Italians on the team prompted alot of talk of Davide Tardozzi taking over from Massimo Meregalli, who is rumoured to be going to join Ben Spies in MotoGP. Oh yeah and there was also rumours that BMW want a more German team. Leading to more talk of the Melandri deal was linked to Tardozzi coming(they are neighbours apparently)and then this would probably mean the arrival of Michel Fabrizio since Davide Tardozzi is his personal manager.
Now I have to say that I didn't really get all the team manager hype and I wasn't Davide Tardozzi's biggest fan but think on this....since leaving Ducati(who last season were a force to be reckoned with) they have completely lost their racing mojo...but since his arrival at BMW they have won their first ever championship with Ayrton Badovini and the WSBK team have gone from strength to strength. Suppose looking at that you can see how Yamaha may want to pay to have him released from what was thought to have been a 3 year deal with BMW.
Wow what a tangled web we weave...so where does that leave James Toseland and Noriyuki Haga...by all accounts still looking for a ride for next year.
As ever jump in and leave your thoughts in the comments box..I love hearing all your takes on who is going where, when and why.
Happy Monday
Jen
