Photo: YouTube capture
The rider market in MotoGP is throbbing with anticipation, as there are still some pretty big moves left in the upper zone of the standings. The most recent MotoGP VIP to talk about these moves is Herve Poncharal, the owner and boss of Yamaha's satellite team, Tech 3, and it was Andrea Iannone whom he indicated as the next Suzuki rider.
Well, at least in a way, because in this stage, people who know things would either not speak openly or simply talk in vague terms. Now that Dani Pedrosa is out of the question as Valentino Rossi's new teammate at Yamaha after signing a two-season contract extension with Honda, all eyes turn back to Suzuki and their Maverick Vinales, and of course, Ducati.
Even though some enthusiast Spanish media outlets indicated Vinales' contract with Yamaha as being already signed, the lawyer and representative of the young rider, Paco Sanchez, refuted the news in an official tweet. This leaves Vinales still in the game, alongside one of the Ducati factory riders, Iannone or Dovizioso.
Borgo Panigale said that the announcement would be made ahead of the Barcelona round, in early June, but we know that, should Vinales make his move earlier, things will precipitate at Ducati, too.
Poncharal sounds convinced that Vinales will go at Yamaha and, when asked which of the two riders Ducati will retain, he replied that, according to his experience as a team owner, the Italian team would choose Dovizioso because of his age and on-track expertise.
The Frenchman has also added that Iannone is still a young gun and perhaps the future has more in store for him than playing second fiddle in a factory team. Poncharal has indicated that if Vinales leaves Suzuki, Iannone could be a great choice as a #1 rider for Suzuki.
He also says that Dovizioso would most likely understand and accept Lorenzo as the number one guy at Ducati, perhaps because he is a tad older and knows more. Still, Poncharal adds that his remarks are in no way pejorative in relation with Iannone, but that, had he been in Iannone's shoes, he'd most certainly choose to be the leader at Suzuki over being the follower at Ducati.
Does Poncharal know something we don't? Most likely, but until the situation evolves, we're only playing the waiting game.
Even though some enthusiast Spanish media outlets indicated Vinales' contract with Yamaha as being already signed, the lawyer and representative of the young rider, Paco Sanchez, refuted the news in an official tweet. This leaves Vinales still in the game, alongside one of the Ducati factory riders, Iannone or Dovizioso.
Borgo Panigale said that the announcement would be made ahead of the Barcelona round, in early June, but we know that, should Vinales make his move earlier, things will precipitate at Ducati, too.
Poncharal sounds convinced that Vinales will go at Yamaha and, when asked which of the two riders Ducati will retain, he replied that, according to his experience as a team owner, the Italian team would choose Dovizioso because of his age and on-track expertise.
The Frenchman has also added that Iannone is still a young gun and perhaps the future has more in store for him than playing second fiddle in a factory team. Poncharal has indicated that if Vinales leaves Suzuki, Iannone could be a great choice as a #1 rider for Suzuki.
He also says that Dovizioso would most likely understand and accept Lorenzo as the number one guy at Ducati, perhaps because he is a tad older and knows more. Still, Poncharal adds that his remarks are in no way pejorative in relation with Iannone, but that, had he been in Iannone's shoes, he'd most certainly choose to be the leader at Suzuki over being the follower at Ducati.
Does Poncharal know something we don't? Most likely, but until the situation evolves, we're only playing the waiting game.
Google News