No ride for Vermeulen - no ride for Toseland?
 

Originally posted on Crash.net
Honda has attempted to cool the speculation surrounding whether or not Phillip Island stand-in Chris Vermeulen will move to MotoGP on a permanent basis next year, claiming that it may be beneficial for him to try and win the World Superbike crown instead.

Vermeulen became the latest incumbent of the second Camel Honda when he replaced Shane Byrne as replacement for the injured Troy Bayliss at the Australian Grand Prix, and claimed a promising eleventh place behind winner Valentino Rossi despite his lack of MotoGP experience prior to practice

The Sito Pons-owned team has a vacancy to fill next season, following Bayliss' decision to returns to superbike with Ducati, and has intimated that Vermeulen would stand a good chance of landing the ride, but Honda has suggested that 2006 may be a year too early for the move, even though Vermeulen may continue on the Camel bike at the next round of the MotoGP series in Turkey this weekend.

"It may depend a little on results in these final races, but it seems that a place with Honda in MotoGP in 2006 is very difficult," Honda Racing Corporation sporting director Carlo Fiorani told the Melbourne Age newspaper, "I think the best option is for Chris to try to win the World Superbike Championship with Honda next year. That job is not yet completed."

Vermeulen came closest to toppling eventual champion Troy Corser in this year's WSBK campaign, following a run of late-season wins, but could not overcome his countryman's lightning start to the season. Should he remain in superbikes next year, he will more than likely close a door at the Ten Kate team being held open for deposed Ducati man James Toseland.

that leaves the question of who would get the Honda GP ride

Exactly. PLEASE don't give it to Biaggi. I think he's had his day.

Could be a place for Sete?????

I doubt very much that Biaggi will get it even though he's 5th in the table. He's first in the mouth department though and that's his problem:biaggi:

As Troy Bayliss said in an interview in this month's motorcycle racer "who are they going to put on my bike that's going to beat Rossi?"

The answer is nobody,who ever they put on the Camel bike won't beat Rossi!!

It'll be a shame if Toseland doesn't get a quality ride,but unfortunatly it looks like there's more bums than seats for next season!!

MCN has Chris Vermeulen going to MptoGP on a Suzuki :frog:

It must be true then !!!:D;)

Would serve Honda right though....

I'd heard Rattler had got the camel job!:lol:
Butch

You shore I thought he landed Edwards seat

:lol::lol::lol:

Heard toseland has tencarte ride ! Today

Hope he wooops ass then :burn:

MCN has loads of stories as to who is going where. Getting very confusing!

Unfinished business in DD first ;) But I've been promised a 2007 ride with Ducati in GPs if I can tame the Monster first :lol:

what if

vermeulen goes to suzuki motoGP
toseland goes to WSB tencarte honda and wins

that might open the door to toseland on the new honda MotoGP in 2007

hmm...

I Think thats a big stick to bait Honda with to force them into giving a GP ride :D

Yep, my thoughts too...

Hoffman will get the 2nd seat at Suzuki, being as Hopper and Hopkins are good mates, and Hopkins has a clause in his contract which gives him the right to choose his team mate

I think Hopkins has the right approve his team mate, which is slightly differently to choosing a team mate. But, yeah, Hopkins has made no bones about wanting Hoffman. Time will tell...

As for the theory that winning WSBK next year on the Honda is a jumping board to a MotoGP ride, I can already hear the media saying "Toseland had it easy on the bike developed into a winner by Vermeulen", etc., etc. This perplexes me.

[Edited on 21-10-2005 by Felix]