On the transfer market
By TMX Archives on 24th Sep 09
HONDA Europe was due to confirm its MX GP budget or the lack of one on Thursday of this week (Sept 24), but the indications are that the big red operation will not be officially represented in the 2010 world series.
Kevin Strijbos, on whom Honda had an option for 2010/11, was formally released last weekend and immediately signed a letter of intent with Georges Jobe – the five-times world champion hopes to run a three-man squad next summer with bikes from KTM and financial backing from Dubai.
The future of Team Martin is very much up in the air – the Italian outfit has relied heavily on its direct Honda support in recent years and rumours of a link with Aprilia in 2010 were scotched by the Italian manufacturer.
CAS Honda owner, Harry Ainsworth, insisted weeks ago that outside sponsorship deals would see his team continue even without financial support from Honda, but he currently has no riders contracted.
Josh Coppins is still in negotiation, but the veteran Kiwi could only be financed with direct Honda involvement and he is now close to signing for a final year on the GP trail with Aprilia.
Billy MacKenzie, who announ-ced at Lierop he would stay with CAS, has not been made a fresh offer after his initial proposal from CAS lapsed, and, despite a tight-lipped silence, the Scot is believed to have already come to an agreement with Kawasaki Australia to race ‘Down Under' next summer. MacKenzie is not the only Brit being associated with a ride in Australia!
The Belgian LS Honda team has signed Davide Guarneri, but hopes of adding a top name Belgian have faded with Strijbos' defection to KTM.
Team owner, Steven Lettani, was seen in deep discussion with Antonio Balbi (pictured) in Brazil, and a deal is not out of the question! Honda Brazil is a lucrative self-financing entity as it holds a 90 per cent market share, and could be interested in seeing its main man, an AMA regular in recent years who has no worthwhile opposition in Brazil itself, contesting the world series.
Elsewhere in the paddock, Georges Jobe hopes to run Tanel Leok and Anthony Boissiere alongside Strijbos in his KTM team, but the Estonian has other options and has not yet signed.
Meanwhile in WMX, world number four Maria Franke has joined the Belgian Diga KTM team alongside Morane de Barquin and Nikki Scott in a truly international line-up.