MOTO GP Rider line up 2007

[Stokesy]

We're now in the position where the positions have been pretty much confirmed for MotoGP for the coming season. Fairly disappointing really in terms of major surprises, as there weren't any. We already knew where the major players would be; the Repsol Honda and Yamaha factory teams have retained the same riders and Capirossi would be back on the Ducati. Gibernau announced his retirement after young Casey Stoner was brought in from Honda LCR to replace him as Capirossi's team mate. Carlos Checa swiftly moved from Tech 3 into Stoner's vacant seat and his old team mate, James Ellison, migrated to AMA. For their part, Tech 3 Yamaha have a new duo of riders, in Tamada and Guintoli. As the merry-go-round continued, Tamada's old seat at Konica Minolta Honda was snapped up by Shinya Nakano who had vacated Kawasaki. Over at the green team it's been all change, after they had taken their MotoGP team completely in-house. Their new riders for '07 will be the experienced French pairing of Olivier Jacque and Randy De Puniet.

Stability reins at Suzuki and Honda Gresini, and you can expect to see the same four riders competing on those machines. The same goes for Team Roberts, but I couldn't really see Kenny Roberts Jnr not getting his contract renewed by his dad... I suppose the biggest shock (for me at least) was to see Alex Barros return to MotoGP after just one year in World Superbikes. Moreover, he has returned to a team that, to put it bluntly, have little hope of being considered a front runner. Even his short-term rival and long-time admirer of MotoGP, James Toseland, had turned down the D'Antin ride before it was offered to Alex. His team mate for the new season will be another Alex, the German Alex Hoffman.

The other big news was with the new boys. The Ilmor team impressed people with their refreshing outlook and enthusiasm during the final two round of the 2006 season, but the two riders for 2007 were late to be announced. Jeremy McWilliams was always a frontrunner, especially after Dorna's alleged involvement to try and get a British rider placed somewhere on the grid. His choice of team mate may have come as a shock to some, but it turned out to be Andrew Pitt, who was moving over from the Yamaha World Superbike team. Maybe it shouldn't have been a shock since his ride at Yamaha had gone to former World Champion, Troy Corser.

Provisional MotoGP line up as announced by the FIM, 19th December 2006.

1 - Nicky Hayden (USA) Repsol Honda Team
4 - Alex Barros (BRA) Pramac D'antin Ducati
5 - Colin Edwards (USA) Yamaha Factory Racing Team
6 - Makoto Tamada (JPN) Tech 3 Yamaha
7 - Carlos Checa (SPA) Honda LCR
10 - Kenny Roberts (USA) Team Roberts
17 - Randy De Puniet (FRA) Kawasaki Racing Team
19 - Olivier Jacque (FRA) Kawasaki Racing Team
21 - John Hopkins (USA) Rizla Suzuki Motogp
24 - Toni Elias (SPA) Honda Gresini
26 - Dani Pedrosa (SPA) Repsol Honda Team
27 - Casey Stoner (AUS) Ducati Marlboro Team
33 - Marco Melandri (ITA) Honda Gresini
46 - Valentino Rossi (ITA) Yamaha Factory Racing Team
50 - Sylvain Guintoli (FRA) Tech 3 Yamaha
56 - Shinya Nakano (JPN) Konica Minolta Honda
65 - Loris Capirossi (ITA) Ducati Marlboro Team
66 - Alex Hofmann (GER) Pramac D'antin Ducati
71 - Chris Vermeulen (AUS) Rizla Suzuki Motogp
- To Be Advised - Ilmor Srt
- To Be Advised - Ilmor Srt


(Ilmor have subsequently announced Andrew Pitt and Jeremy McWilliams as riders for 2007).