Honda implements its short-term policy…

The 2007 season is in full swing, but manufacturers and riders must already think about 2008 … Honda, for example, is filling up with new MotoGP recruits and temporarily abandoning the other two categories, awaiting the arrival of 4-stroke. ?

If nothing is yet clearly defined by the Dorna concerning the future of the 125 and the 250, it seems well and truly acquired that it will be Honda which will dictate the rules of the game from start to finish: after having announced its desire to no longer build a 2-stroke engine from 2010 (and suddenly forced all manufacturers to review their copy at this time), the world’s leading manufacturer is driving the point home by announcing to its partners the end of research and development for its official machines.

A hard blow for the teams and the players in these categories already largely dominated by the Piaggio group (Aprilia, Derbi and Gilera): what prospects, for example, for the FFM Honda GP125 team, which is already struggling this season, to obtain results with the Albigensian pilot Alexis Masbou ?

Feeling the wind turn, the sports advisor of the Repsol team, Alberto Puig, decided to join forces with the Austrian manufacturer KTM for the 125 and 250. Harald Bartol and his team indeed seem to be the only ones able to counter the hegemony Aprilia: in 125, all that’s missing is more regular riders and reliability in 250.

However, Dani Pedrosa’s mentor does not come empty-handed: these two young pilots (Esteve Rabat and Bradley Smith) will pilot the orange car with the Swiss Randy Krummenacher! A racing car that is on par, in 250, with the new RSA from the Noale factory, but which suffers from youthful problems: while they were fighting at the forefront this weekend, the two KTM riders experienced mechanical problems sounding the death knell for their series of good results…

Complications which did not frighten the young vice-world champion 125 in 2005 and 2006, Mika Kallio, who has just announced the renewal of his contract with the firm of Mattighofen: the team manager is full of praise for the Finnish‘s abilities and he has no doubts about his chances of winning next year !

A competition that will certainly be played out between "young wolves of the 125", since Bautista and Luthi have also confirmed their presence in the same structures next year: if the young Swiss driver has shown good consistency by obtaining several fourth places – while he was discovering the category – he will have a lot to do with the dazzling Alvaro Bautista, outgoing 125 champion, who has just signed his second victory in Portugal … The n ° 19 driver has completely eclipsed his experienced teammate Alex de Angelis and has mastered the attacks of the talented vice-world champion in the category for two seasons to the end: Andrea Dovizioso…

Coincidence or transfer of power? The two young riders have just announced their arrival in MotoGP next year within the Gresini and JIR teams (sponsored by Konica Minolta for two years). "I am really happy", exclaims De Angelis after Estoril’s round:"I ride MotoGP with a lot of enthusiasm and the certainty of having made the right decision! I believe a lot in Fausto Gresini’s team. Over the years they have proven themselves to be a top team and they have nothing to envy of the factory teams. Every driver who rode for them has achieved good results. I think I have all the technical and moral support I need".

A reassuring speech from the San Marinese pilot (who points to third place overall), despite the HRC’s announcement to focus the development of its RCV 212 only on its official structure…

This situation did not put off Dovizioso, accustomed with the first world manufacturer to have to fight with equipment often in decline: the Italian could well join the JIR team in place of Shinya Nakano, whose future in the premier class seems compromised … "I will race in MotoGP next year with the same technical staff as this year and with the support of Honda", says Dovizioso, who returned this weekend to second place in the 250 cc world championship: We still have some details to work out like the structure I will be racing in, but this should be confirmed pretty soon"…

The 2008 MotoGP season promises to be auspicious: Dovizioso and De Angelis will be able to continue fighting with Jorge Lorenzo, who has just been officially confirmed within the Fiat Yamaha team alongside Valentino Rossi (read), but also with "old" acquaintances like Dani Pedrosa, Casey Stoner or Randy de Puniet !

Alexandre BARDIN – Photos DR

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