Billy will stay with CAS
By TMX Archives on 3rd Sep 09
BILLY MacKenzie will stay with CAS Honda for 2010. I had other offers, offers with more money, but I'm staying here. I know the Honda and I know the team.
The 25-year-old Scot (pictured right) and CAS have yet to formally sign paperwork for 2010, indeed team owner Harry Ainsworth insisted that their initial offer to Billy had lapsed, but outside sponsors, not least Monster Energy, ensure that CAS will run next year. Meanwhile Martin Honda is currently not able to make any commitment to continue racing until it finds out the extent of Honda Europe's input.
CAS, along with Aprilia, are still very much in the race to sign Josh Coppins, however a financial package to sign the Kiwi cannot be tied up until Honda commits itself to the deal. And Honda Europe's budget will not be known until mid-September.
MacKenzie's decision to stay with CAS comes as a blow to Yamaha, who anticipated signing him as number two MX1 rider to David Philippaerts, albeit in the Ricci awning as Michele Rinaldi will run one rider in each class, Gautier Paulin signed to head the MX2 effort.
Laurens Klein Koerkamp of Yamaha Europe confirmed at the weekend: We understand that it is no problem to run one rider in each class. Yamaha is clearly so confident of this that it finally issued a press release on Monday of this week to confirm Philippaerts and Paulin for the Monster Rinaldi team.
Hot favourite for the second MX1 seat at Yamaha is now Ken De Dycker.
The Belgian, who was due to test the Aprilia on Tuesday, was already second in line and, in the wake of MacKenzie's decision to turn down the opportunity to race the radically new YZ450FI, had an offer on the table even before his stunning double victory at Lierop. It is believed his manager received an increased offer while the race at the Dutch GP was still in progress.