Would have to check the exact number but I think you're considered as a "rookie" until you've made at least eight appearances in one season. Espargaro is considered a rookie even though he made four appearances for Pramac last year. It stops factory teams giving riders wildcard rides to avoid the "no rookies" rule.

On a side note, if today's qualifying in Assen is anything to go by, this season is going to end on a whimper. Pedrosa isn't fit, Stoner can't ride his bike and Lorenzo is too damn quick.

Just found this:

To help clear up the situation, the Commission has given the following definitions of new ‘rookie’ rider and a ‘contracted’ rider:

“A contracted rider is a rider who has participated in nine or more events during one season.

“A “Rookie” is a rider nominated by a participating team for participation in the entire season, who has not been a contracted rider as defined above in the same class in any previous season.”



So by my reckoning, the fact that Yoshikawa will not be participating for the full season is why he's allowed. And I'm guessing that the fact Spies would have still been participating in MotoGP for the full season was what still prevented him switching.

MCN reports that Valentino Rossi has walked out of contract talks with Yamaha and WILL sign for Ducati.

No surprise there but who will Ducati let go - Hayden or Stoner ? There was not much chance of Lorenzo being told to bugger off from Yamaha was there ? I hope Hayden stays at Ducati. Send Stoner to Yamaha or Spies to the factory Yamaha.

I reckon Stoner will go. Ducati seem to be trying to make it more of a riders' bike judging by the gap closing between Hayden and Stoner, so I think it might not suit Stoner so much any more. I also don't think his ego could take it if Rossi started 'beating him on his own bike'.

I'd rather Hayden stay at Ducati and Stoner go elsewhere which I'd not be surprised if he did so.

Agree. Could also see Rossi preferring that, and wonder if it might play into negotiations with him.

Stoner confirmed to Honda.

Rossi has been testing a WSB bike in Brno today to prove his fitness and the word is that things have gone well. He could return to action in Germany this weekend (which would be a miraculous recovery if true). We could also have an announcement this week about Rossi's move to Ducati.

Oh, and whilst it's all speculation, it looks like [url=http://www.carolenash.com/insidebikes/bike-sport/edwards-approached-over-wsb-switch.htmwe won't be seeing that much more of Colin Edwards[/url.

No surprise about Stoner going to Honda. Shame about Colin Edwards though if he goes back to WSB. I take it Spies will be at Yamaha if he leaves the Tech 3 team ? That leaves Dani Pedrosa and Andrea Dovizioso at the moment still at Honda but which one will be told he's not needed for 2011 and onwards though ?

Probably Pedrosa. It sounds as though Honda have lost patience with him and the demands of his manager Alberto Puig.

In fairness to Honda, they have bent over backwards since he signed there ro give him the bike he wants.

Is Rossi really going to be riding at the next round ?

Provided that he passes an FIM medical later today (although his / Yamaha's own doctors were happy with their X-rays)

Initially it was thought that he would only commit himself to Friday practice before deciding whether to race. The press release from Yamaha later in the day seemed to commit him to racing all weekend or not at all.

Medical passed - see you Sunday Mr R!

Bloody hell.

Valentino Rossi is a Ducati rider from next year for at least 2 years.

What a tragic day today that Shoya Tomizawa has died at the Moto 2 race today after an accident.


He was only 19 or 20 years old.

Nasty accident too, the press are reporting that he hit his head on the track as he came off his bike but the video shows what really happened.

Could have been a mechanical failure too ? His front wheel just skewed away (under braking ?) for no apparent reason, the riders behind had no chance.

20 years old, live fast die young, I've seen it happen to so many...

Tragic news from Misano today.

Looking at it, Tomizawa seems to over-run the corner hits the astro-turf at the side of the apex. If that is the case, then it wouldn't surprise me if the tyre completely lost grip. I'm not sure that there's any mechanical problem in there, these types of low-sides are common in motorcycle racing and are usually down to a combination of rider error, cold tyres (unlikely in this instance as the race was 11 laps old) or badly tuned suspension (not necessarily a fault in itself - the forks in these bikes are very highly strung for every track, tyre and temperature).

The accident itself is eerily similar to one that took the life of Craig Jones at Brands Hatch in World Supersport two years ago. Jones came off his bike in a low-side just like this and was unavoidably struck by another rider.

I imagine that questions will be asked of the track medical teams as well. They appeared to just throw Scott Redding (another rider involved) onto a stretcher and they apparently dropped the stretcher carrying Tomizawa. Given that poor first aid was a factor in the death of Darijio Kato in 2003, there could be big implications here as well.

It's also worth remembering that this is the second death at a MotoGP event in the space of two weeks. Last week at Indianapolis, 13-year-old Peter Lenzi died whilst riding in an AMA event that happened to be on the MotoGP under-card.

Absolutely awful to see, especially as his body was spiralling down the track

One of the marshalls that was carrying Tomi tripped up and dropped the stretcher, ridiculous that the race wasn't stopped and IMHO an absolute pathetic excuse that they came out with as to why it wasn't stopped

I agree the way they put Scott Redding on to the stretcher was stupid, what if he had a broken spine? they could have potentially made it worse that what it was

There was nothing Redding nor De Angelis could do to avoid hitting him, unfotunately they were in the wrong place at the wrong time

I was very surprised at the rationale behind the decision not to red-flag the race. I've seen red flags for much less than that.

The marshall response seriously needs to be looked at. If you look at the care and attention that is given to RL players in situations where there is even a hint at any sort of head, neck or spinal injury (think Luke Burgess at Castleford three weeks ago), this was extremely poor. I appreciate that many these marshalls are often volunteers but this is basic first aid we are talking about here.

Hopefully in my view, we might also see a curbing of this trend for astro-turf being used to extend apexes at corners instead of grass or gravel. I understand the rationale behind them, in that they allow F1 drivers to "rescue" an overshot corner but I've never liked them on bike circuits. All it has done in some respects is encourage riders to push that little bit harder. Hit a patch of astro-turf with your only two wheels at a 50-60 degree lean however and you've got a hell of a job staying in the saddle.

Scott Redding has [url=http://www.carolenash.com/insidebikes/bike-sport/redding-avoids-serious-injury-but-shattered-by-moto2-tragedy.htmavoided serious injury[/url, having 10 stitches for lacerations on his back.

Cal Crutchlow has also been confirmed at Tech 3 Yamaha next season, so we'll have a British rider in MotoGP next year.

Good to see a British rider for next year

Hope Cal does better than James did

Melandri going the other way to WSBK

2011 looking good

Looks short doesn't it

It's not showing.