Wholesale changes continue for MotoGP 2003

By Dan Moakes
November 7 2002

Firstly, it was confirmed at the final GP that race winner Alex Barros was in his final race for the Honda Pons team. As this squad will not have any of the works specification RC211Vs next year, the Brazilian was understandably more than interested in a switch to a top rated Yamaha YZR-M1.

With places going in both the factory-backed Fortuna Yamaha (formerly Marlboro) and Gauloises Tech 3 teams, it was duly announced that Barros had taken up a place at the latter outfit, where Shinya Nakano had already been let go. Olivier Jacque remains in the team. The seat alongside Carlos Checa on the Fortuna bikes has therefore gone to new 250cc champion Marco Melandri.

In the Honda ranks, it seems that American Nicky Hayden will be taking over the Repsol bike of Tohru Ukawa, with Valentino Rossi obviously remaining as team leader. Ukawa is thought to be bound for another Honda, but this time a Bridgestone-shod machine. Barros’ defection from Team Pons has led to a link up with Pramac Honda, who had already signed Max Biaggi, and the new Pramac Honda Pons is now a possible destination for Ukawa. Tetsuya Harada, who rode with Pramac this year, announced his retirement in Valênica, following a highly successful 250cc career.

With Sete Gibernau joining Daijiro Kato in the newly named Telefónica MoviStar Honda Gresini team, where Kato will be in receipt of the third works RCV, John Hopkins seems to be a good bet to replace the Spaniard at Suzuki. However, he was also among the list of names that were to test for Kawasaki in the search for a team-mate for Andrew Pitt, who should be retained as a green machine rider. With the team also looking out for a test rider, Hopkins was to be joined at the try out by Garry McCoy, Régis Laconi and Alex Hofmann, but in the end the ride went to McCoy.

Laconi’s expected presence was because it now seems that Noriyuki Haga might be returning to GPs as the second Aprilia rider, alongside Colin Edwards. This has yet be announced of course, as has the fate of Nakano, who may have to vie with Norick Abe for access to a fifth Yamaha M1. In the meantime, Valência saw the first public demonstration laps for the new Ducati, which was in the hands of Troy Bayliss and tester Vittoriano Guareschi.

Perhaps the most surprising development of all has been the rumour connecting Steve Hislop with a slot in GP. The new British Superbike champion has apparently been offered a ride with the (former Red Bull) WCM team, but would likely be entered on a modified 1000cc superbike, which means either a Suzuki GSX-R or a Yamaha YZF-R1. It remains to be seem how many of these changes come to pass, but it should make for a build up of anticipation over the off-season. Stay tuned...