GP team line-ups are announced
By TMX Archives on 30th Nov 07
WITH just about everybody settled on their rides for next season, we thought readers would be interested to take a look at the factory line-up for the 2008 GPs.
As the sport at the highest level becomes a financial impossibility for the privateer, more riders will enjoy manufacturer support in 2008 than at any time in the history of the sport and, even more fascinating, every one of the five marques which can be ranked as potential winners has a new man next year!
Top man on the move is world number two Kevin Strijbos, who quits Suzuki for GPKR Kawasaki alongside Sebastien Pourcel, while the other supported team in green, Kawasaki Europe, also present a newcomer in Manuel Priem, signed to replace Billy MacKenzie, while Tanel Leok is retained.
The Scot has moved to CAS to lead the revived Honda effort with Mike Brown, as Ken De Dycker leaves to join champion Steve Ramon at Teka Suzuki, while Marc De Reuver is also new to Honda after signing for the Italian Martin team, where he will partner with Julien Bill.
His place at Rinaldi Yamaha, as team-mate to Josh Coppins, goes to David Philippaerts, surely a much better bet for success than the Dutchman.
Over in Austria, KTM has been juggling its troops with Max Nagl now in the factory rig and Jonathan Barragan moved out to Silver Action, while Kornel Nemeth joins MX1 class newcomer, Marcus Schiffer, at Sarholz.
Nagl is the sole MX1 man on the Red Bull team as the orange army send three MX2 candidates into action, Rui Goncalves joining Tommy Searle and Tyla Rattray on the factory team under the watchful eye of Stefan Everts.
The Yamaha line-up remains unchanged, though Red Bull now support the entire De Carli team, not just champion Toni Cairoli, but Suzuki has upped its commitment in the class with full factory bikes for French signings Pascal Leuret and Xavier Boog. The bikes will be based at Suzuki HQ in Belgium, but Leuret will race for Swift in the UK and his teenage compatriot for the German Inotec team.
Kawasaki will, of course, be determined to recover the crown it held in 2006, the task being given to the Molson trio of Stephen Sword, Gareth Swanepoel and European champion, Gautier Paulin.
2008 MX1/MX2 MANUFACTURER SUPPORTED RIDERS
MX1 CLASS
Teka Suzuki: Steve Ramon (B), Ken De Dycker (B)*
GPKR Kawasaki: Kevin Strijbos (B)*, Sebastien Pourcel (F)
Kawasaki Europe (NL): Tanel Leok (EW), Manuel Priem (B)*
Rinaldi Yamaha: Josh Coppins (NZ), David Philippaerts (I)*
CAS Honda: Mike Brown (USA), Billy MacKENZIE (GB)*
Martin Honda: Marc De Reuver (NL)*, Julien Bill (CH)
Red Bull KTM: Max Nagl (D)*
Silver Action KTM: Jonathan Barragan (E)*
Sarholz KTM: Marcus Schiffer (D), Kornel Nemeth (H)*
MX2 CLASS
De Carli Red Bull Yamaha: Toni Cairoli (I), Matteo Bonini (I)
Ricci Yamaha: Nico Aubin (F), Davide Guarneri (I)
Red Bull KTM: Tommy SEARLE (GB), Tyla Rattray (SA), Rui Goncalves (P)*
Champ KTM: Jeremy Van Horebeek (B), Joel Roelants (B)*
Molson Kawasaki: Gareth Swanepoel (SA), Stephen SWORD (GB), Gautier Paulin (F)*
Swift Suzuki: Pascal Leuret (F)*
Inotec Suzuki: Xavier Boog (F)*
NB: Riders marked with an asterisk are new to their respective teams for 2008.