A dearth of seats.
No big surprises after last years outstanding results from Poncharal and his team but I find it a lttle hard to square Jarvis' optimism on recruitment when Tech trois are their only affiliated option..there simply ain't enough seats to keep riders interested.
Given that neither of Herve's riders got promoted last season after some stand out results, future candidates will probably ask themselves exactly what they have to do to progress?
Alright..Rossi is Rossi and may well justify inclusion on the evidence so far. Lorenzo is Champ and did a great job. But unless Dani has a really bad year and what with Marquez being groomed by Honda and Repsol, will there be factory Yamaha seats available in the medium to long term? Nobody will be offering their sevices to Ducati.
What if Stoner gets fed up wiping bottoms and wants to return..there are already rumours?
Where will it leave Pol Espargaro if he signs a pre-contract with Yamaha?
What about Cal & Bradders?
Wosi says..make the factories run 3 rider squads and force them to support extra teams like Tech3 by selling last years bikes, instead of sending them to the crusher..
There's no big secrets lurking in the hardware - the frame and engine - it's all in the software strategies and code writing. Now that Mareli are supplying electronics for CRT, Yamaha could sell year old M1's minus the bit that gives them their advantage. Honda could do the same with RCV's.
Give satellite teams 24 litres and 12 engines..more if they're needed. Anything to make them competitive.
Surely this is a better solution than Proddy RCV's and Leased engine/electronics packages?
More competitive seats on ex-factory prototypes doesn't need to cost the earth and may give Yamaha a chance of keeping riders on board for the time when genuine works rides become available.
