Factory Honda talks continue for Scott Redding

Negotiations to get Scott Redding on the factory Honda RC213V in Fausto Gresini’s Italian squad in 2015 have still to be concluded.

Lengthy discussions between Redding’s management, HRC and Gresini continued again during last weekend’s Indianapolis MotoGP race, which saw the 2013 Moto2 runner-up finish in a brilliant ninth position.

The 21-year-old is desperate to secure the factory RC213V that is currently raced by Spaniard Alvaro Bautista.

Bautista has scored just one podium this season with third in Le Mans and in the other nine races the former 125GP world champion has only claimed one other top six.

Redding is only 10-points behind his teammate in the rankings, even though he has spent his rookie season on the underpowered production RCV1000R machine.

The Gloucestershire rider has scored points in each of the nine races he’s finished and at the Sachsenring and Indianapolis he has been easily the highest placed and fastest RCV1000R on the grid.

The former Marc VDS Racing rider though is still waiting to hear if he will be given the chance to switch to the RC213V in 2015.

Redding’s manager Michael Bartholemy told MCN: “We are in discussion with Fausto but we have been doing this for quite some time. We have a contract for next year so it is not that we should be completely worried about the future but it was always our target and important to have the factory bike for next year.

“Things are coming closer though we have to finalise some things but I hope we can find a solution to have a factory bike next year.”

One potential sticking point in the negotiations is Redding’s eagerness to move from Nissin brakes and Showa suspension to Brembo and Ohlins should he be offered the factory bike.

Bartholemy admitted that the technical package is a key element in the on going discussions and he added: “I think every rider would like to fight Marc Marquez and Dani Pedrosa on the same spec because if you have the same suspension and brakes the bike is not a lot different.

“It would take one doubt out of his head but it is a team decision. We are discussing with them and we need that clear as soon as possible.”

HRC boss Livio Suppo said he had been impressed with Redding’s recent performances and he said: “Scott is doing a good job. He is a young rider and he deserves a chance to prove that he has learned and he is fast. Sure he is a candidate for the factory bike.”

Suppo also confirmed that talks about the brakes and suspension ‘is not an easy topic’ and he added: “On one side, if you have everything the same as the rest then it is good but also difficult to have some advantage.

“Alvaro finished on the podium this year and Stefan Bradl didn’t and they are on different material. It is difficult to judge and I understand from a rider point of view that if you have the same kit as the others it is one less problem.

“But you can also think I may have some advantage with something different. But we have to consider together with the team.”

If Redding is promoted to the factory RC213V, British fans will have the mouthwatering prospect of Redding and Cal Crutchlow on top spec Honda machinery. Crutchlow recently signed a deal to move to the LCR Honda squad after a nightmare switch to Ducati.