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 impossibilityfor the privateer, more riders will enjoy manufacturer support in 2008than at any time in the history of the sport and, even morefascinating, every one of the five marques which can be ranked aspotential winners has a new man next year!
Top man on the move is world number two Kevin Strijbos, who quitsSuzuki for GPKR Kawasaki alongside Sebastien Pourcel, while the othersupported team in green, Kawasaki Europe, also present a newcomer inManuel Priem, signed to replace Billy MacKenzie, while Tanel Leok isretained.
The Scot has moved to CAS to lead the revived Honda effort with MikeBrown, as Ken De Dycker leaves to join champion Steve Ramon at TekaSuzuki, while Marc De Reuver is also new to Honda after signing for theItalian Martin team, where he will partner with Julien Bill.
His place at Rinaldi Yamaha, as team-mate to Josh Coppins, goes toDavid Philippaerts, surely a much better bet for success than theDutchman.
Over in Austria, KTM has been juggling its troops with Max Nagl now in the factory rig andJonathan Barragan moved out to Silver Action, while Kornel Nemeth joinsMX1 class newcomer, Marcus Schiffer, at Sarholz.
Nagl is the sole MX1 man on the Red Bull team as the orange armysend three MX2 candidates into action, Rui Goncalves joining TommySearle and Tyla Rattray on the factory team under the watchful eye ofStefan Everts.
The Yamaha line-up remains unchanged, though Red Bull now supportthe entire De Carli team, not just champion Toni Cairoli, but Suzukihas upped its commitment in the class with full factory bikes forFrench signings Pascal Leuret and Xavier Boog. The bikes will be basedat Suzuki HQ in Belgium, but Leuret will race for Swift in the UK andhis teenage compatriot for the German Inotec team.
Kawasaki will, of course, be determined to recover the crown it heldin 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.