GP musical chairs at full speed!
The Lommel paddock was buzzing with transfer rumors this weekend. Logical because with four GPs to go, the musical chairs of riders, motorcycles and teams is running at full speed. However, official reports remain scarce for the time being. That is why Motocrossmag listened to the 'paddock radio'
The Jerre back to KTM?
The big news was the impending switch from Jeremy Van Horebeek from CLS Kawasaki to the Red Bull KTM factory team. According to various sources, the matter is as good as closed. Although one big question mark remains. In principle, The Jerre still has a contract with CLS-Kwasaki for 2011. However, if Van Horebeek finishes outside the top five this season, he can resign. Van Horebeek is currently eighth and the top five is certainly not out of his reach... Although some kind of swap between KTM and Kawasaki seems to be in the works -Tommy Searle would come back to Europe for CLS -Kawasaki- so it remains to be seen. Jeremy himself also did not show his cards yesterday. “I have a contract with CLS-Kawasaki until the end of the year and as long as the season is not over, I will just keep doing my best for CLS.” It was previously announced in the margins that the collaboration between Van Horebeek and his management (Synergy Sport) will be stopped at the end of the season.
In any case, if The Jerre returns to KTM, it will also mean a renewed acquaintance with the bike with which he achieved his only GP victory to date. Except Searle is also Shaun Simpson tipped as a newcomer to Kawasaki Racing Team in MX1. About the future plans of Joel Roelants the fog has not lifted yet. But Jay R. did confide to us that he will stay in the MX2 class for another season anyway. “I have the feeling that I have not yet reached my ceiling on an MX2 bike,” said Roelants. The Grobbendon native has several offers in his pocket and expects to have a deal completed within the week. We can already exclude one brand: Honda. After a disappointing campaign with downright weak results for Alessandro Battig (Martin Honda) and SRS Racing duo Nicholas Larsen en Petar Petrov, these projects can no longer count on support in 2011.
Just like last year, the name Husqvarna is also mentioned regularly. The Italian brand wants to return to the GPs next year. The question is whether there will be room in that brand new GP team for the brand's current European Championship riders Jernej Irt en Andrea Cervellin. Husqvarna will probably also opt for an experienced rider from the top 10 as leader.
At Yamaha, main sponsor Monster Energy wants no fewer than three official riders on a YZ250F. A line-up that already seems complete with Gautier Paulin (Rinaldi), Christopher Charlier en Harry Kullas (Gariboldi), although only the Rinaldi rider has been confirmed for the time being. At Teka Suzuki there are probably few reasons to change the line-up. Now that a restriction to 20 permanent drivers seems to be out of the question again, there will probably be room for new teams. One of them could well be a Belgian Suzuki team with the Lieber brothers as riders. Also the Belgian DIGA Racing team is looking at the possibilities of competing in the MX2 World Championship together with a partner.
Clément Desalle key figure in MX1
Being at Red Bull KTM Antonio Cairolli en Max nagl already a certainty for next year. The identity of a third driver is still a matter of speculation. The question is even whether main sponsor Red Bull still wants to continue to invest fully in the GPs now that they will no longer be title sponsor of the World Cup next year.
Lying with Roger Pourcel's Kawasaki Racing Team Jonathan Barragan en Xavier Bow already. However, there seems to be no room for son Sébastien anymore. Although it appears that a third driver will be added anyway. There is certainly a good chance that this will also be a Frenchman. All kinds of questions arise about the continued existence of the Bud Racing Kawasaki team. Budgets may also have to be cut at Kawasaki Europe and the surfer boys from the Landes could become victims of this.
In 2011, Honda is going all out for the MX1 and is dividing its existing support between two teams: Martin Honda and LS Motors Honda. The intention is that Martin will ride HRC engines and LS Motors will develop the standard CRF 450s. Jimmy Albertsson's chances of a further stay in the GPs seem to have shrunk considerably. That will probably increase the Australian's chances Dean Ferris who was also active for Martin in Kester (BK) and Teutschenthal. The leader could also come from the Southern Hemisphere because Ben Townley would return to the GPs anyway. Kevin Strijbos is also prominently featured again at Honda-Martin.
It is an open secret that people at... LS Motors-Honda would like to have a Belgian leader. Although discussions with several candidates for that role have so far proven fruitless. Deliberation is also the message at LS because both Leok and Guarneri have already proven themselves this season. How about CAS Honda it is still unclear whether it will have to continue without support from Honda Europe. However, Evgeny Bobryshev in particular is said to have received a number of interesting offers. His Russian nationality probably also plays a further role in this. Because the nationality of a driver could be decisive for the first time in this transfer period. In that perspective, there also seems to be a slight oversupply of Belgian riders in the MX1.
The only Belgian who is certain of a place is Clément Desalle at Rockstar Teka Suzuki. Although the question remains whether Desalle will also compete in the GPs next year. After all, the native of Hainaut is looking forward to a career in the States. In the event of a possible switch to the AMA Supercross and Motocross series, Desalle would not necessarily end up on a Rockstar Makita Suzuki. As far as the content of the Rockstar Teka Suzuki line-up is concerned, the ball is in the court of “Le Panda”. Ben Townley's name is also circulating here, as is that of Evgeny Bobryshev. The extent to which Steve Ramon is still part of the future plans of the Suzuki factory team is not known.
The mist has not yet cleared around the Beursfoon Suzuki team either. According to Radio Paddock, one of Strijbos' personal sponsors could take over the team. Already seems Kevin Strijbos still angling for a place with a factory team. Places that will probably be limited because Aprilia might give up after years of terrible setbacks. In that case, the current factory engines could be leased or loaned to a private team.
Yamaha is also aiming for three official riders in the MX1. In concrete terms, David Philippaerts would agree Steven Frossard gain a teammate at Rinaldi. The third MX1 rider would then be accommodated by Gariboldi. It seems there too Bobryshev fit wonderfully into the picture. The Russian probably still has contacts at Yamaha Europe from his time at Yamaha Van Beers and is already a Monster Energy rider. Ken Dycker is regularly linked to Honda, but otherwise it is atypically quiet around Keeno.
Or we also have the new one Husqvarna TC450 Seeing the BMW block in the MX1 next year is not yet certain. In the event of any official deployment, there would also be an important Belgian contribution. The performance of Joel Smets in a Husqvarna shirt during Everts and friends is fueling speculation about a possible role as team manager or consultant. Meanwhile, the music continues… and the number of free seats decreases! We will keep you informed.
Photo credits: Kawasaki Racing, CDS, Vital MX
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