King Kenny headed to WSBK?

MotoGP: Kenny Roberts says future could lie in World Superbikes - Motorcycle Sport - MCN (http://www.motorcyclenews.com/MCN/sport/sportresults/mcn/2007/september/sep17-23/sep1907motogpkennyrobertssaysfuturecouldlieworldsuperbikes/) MotoGP: Kenny Roberts says future could lie in World Superbikes By Matthew Birt (http://www.motorcyclenews.com/MCN/community/Profile/?&user-id=513308) MotoGP 19 September 2007 15:58 Kenny Roberts (http://www.motorcyclenews.com/Shared/PageTemplates/Article.aspx?id=92497) admitted he would seriously consider moving to the World Superbike championship in 2008 if he was forced to quit MotoGP. Roberts, who has been involved in the MotoGP world championship since he took the series by storm in 1978, is still to finalise his premier class plans for next season. The triple world champion has been linked with a move to World Superbikes for years, and earlier this season it was confirmed his British-based team had been in preliminary discussions about a deal with MV Agusta (http://www.motorcyclenews.com/Shared/PageTemplates/Article.aspx?id=92837). “We have a factory and we have 30 people. We do some things in World Superbikes already, and if that were my only option I’d have to take it. “I’d like to have my guys working and keep the business intact. I’ll have a business decision to take at the end of the season and see what we do," said Roberts, who under World Superbike rules would have to lease a complete bike. At present his MotoGP team, which leases engines from Honda, makes its own chassis, bodywork and exhaust systems. But Kenny Roberts added: “We have some other options that we are looking at that all hasn’t played out. I’ve not seriously attacked any company on that yet. “We’d take a step back in terms of building what we do for our MotoGP project and transfer our knowledge that to whatever we could around the rules of World Superbikes.”

I would say a move to CCS series is closer to where they belong. Ride safe.

I would say a move to CCS series is closer to where they belong. BLASPHEMY!!!:chair:

BLASPHEMY!!!:chair: Well they have a hard time making it more than a few laps come race time so WERA, ASRA, and AMA are out.:secret: :fact At least most CCS races are sprint races so they might have a chance. Ride safe.

Well they have a hard time making it more than a few laps come race time so WERA, ASRA, and AMA are out.:secret: :fact At least most CCS races are sprint races so they might have a chance. Ride safe. :stpd:

Well they have a hard time making it more than a few laps come race time so WERA, ASRA, and AMA are out.:secret: :fact At least most CCS races are sprint races so they might have a chance. Ride safe. LOL.....thats harsh!

I would say a move to CCS series is closer to where they belong. Ride safe. :lol :lol :corn

BLASPHEMY!!!:chair: :stpd:

they might be more competitive with a decent rider in MotoGP. I hope he dosnt pay Kurtis Roberts a salary to ride around the track and make his team look bad.

I think a better rider and more consistent engines/equipment would make Kenny's team a better MotoGP team. If he was able to transfer that technology and r&d to WSBK I think he could be pretty successful.

Team Robert's has had a very difficult time with sponsorship over the past few years in MotgGP. I think it would be a good move for them to pull out of MotoGP and go to WSBK.

BLASPHEMY!!!:chair: :lol Those two comments had my drink going everywhere! That is the most harsh comment I have seen posted about KRSR's team. Not only can he not race WSBK, AMA, or even WERA...he should race an even smaller and shorter length race series.......Priceless. Then the Blasphemy:lol !!!! Kenny should move to WSBK. Right now his team seems to be falling further and further behind. WSBK might be just what he needs.

Team Robert's has had a very difficult time with sponsorship over the past few years in MotgGP. Maybe if they had a decent bike / rider combo they'd have attracted more sponsors? WTF is he thinking hiring Kurtis? There's got to be a point where nepotism just ISN'T in your best interest...maybe he's just a cheap old bugger and Kurtis probably works cheap (who would pay him a lot of coin based on his results?)

Changes ahead at Team Roberts - EXCLUSIVE. Thursday, 4th October 2007 Despite speculation of a World Superbike switch, Team Roberts plan to remain in MotoGP next season with an expanded two rider line-up - meaning the end of its Honda engine supply. By Peter McLaren Team Roberts held mid-season discussions with MV Agusta about the possibility of running a factory WSBK outfit next year, but the Italian factory - whose planned partnership with Foggy Racing was recently scrapped - seems to be backing away from the series. "Although we had some exploratory discussions with MV, that was in the middle of summer and we have not really spoken since. I think their interest in participating next season has gone away, but that is something you would have to ask them directly," Team Roberts team manager Chuck Aksland told Crash.net. "If an opportunity to participate in World Superbike came up, then we would certainly look at that as one option," Aksland continued. "We already develop parts for some teams participating in World Superbike, so this could be a natural progression. Of course, it takes either working with a manufacturer or having a sponsor to have this sort of project make sense. As I mentioned, if the right opportunity came up we would certainly look at it." But the main aim is MotoGP, where Team KR - the only independent outfit on the 19-rider grid - has used Honda engines and Michelin tyres to compliment its Banbury-built chassis for the past two seasons. The first year of the collaboration was a spectacular success, with former world champion Kenny Jr coming within one lap of winning the 2006 Portuguese Grand Prix, during a season in which he scored two podiums and claimed sixth in the championship. However, the change to 800cc engines and introduction of new tyre restrictions for 2007 hit Honda and Michelin hard - and combined to deliver a hefty double-blow to Team Roberts. With Honda's new engine lacking output, HRC threw all its resources into the factory Repsol Honda Team in a bid to close the gap to its rivals as quickly as possible. Much needed new parts then slowly filtered down to the satellite Honda teams from mid-season onwards, but are still to reach Team Roberts. Meanwhile, the new process of selecting tyres before the grand prix weekend had begun caught Michelin off-guard, compared to Bridgestone, which had effectively been operating in that way since joining the premier-class. Add to that the unique characteristics, and therefore tyre demands, of the KR211V and Team Roberts were left in difficult situation. At first Team KR concentrated on the most significant component under its control, the chassis, and tried to build its way out of the early-season problems. Kurtis Roberts replaced exasperated brother Kenny as that process took place but, although progress was made, it was soon apparent that engine power and more appropriate tyres were needed to lift the team from the back of the grid. Neither looks likely in the three remaining rounds of this season, but Team Roberts now has one eye on the creation of a full, sponsor-friendly, two-rider team for 2008 - which would mean an end to the Honda partnership. "Our priority is still to continue in MotoGP at this moment. We have potential sponsorship coming from a couple directions, but this is only for a two rider program. We find it nearly impossible to sell a one-rider MotoGP program," Aksland explained. "Honda has already said they will not supply our team to run two riders, so they will not be an option for us for 2008. If we had to run one rider again, it could only be on the condition that the manufacturer would work with us to go for two riders in the future. "Honda seem to have their hands full at the moment and it does not look likely that they would work with us to expand our program. Hopefully by Valencia we will have more news about what we are doing for 2008," he added. One of the reasons a single-tyre rule is being proposed for MotoGP in 2008 is an excessive demand for Bridgestone's tyres, forcing the Japanese company to turn down requests from the likes of Repsol Honda. Team Roberts were rejected by both Bridgestone and Michelin in the past, with no such consequences, but Aksland - like Valentino Rossi and Dani Pedrosa - welcomes the possibility of one tyre brand for all. "Since 2004, when we were refused supply by either Michelin or Bridgestone, we have been in favour of a one-tyre rule," said Aksland. "That year we were put into the position of developing Dunlop tyres, and at the same time we were trying to develop our own machine. It did not make sense for either of us. Dunlop needed a manufacturer that had a developed bike, like they have this year [with Tech 3] and we needed a developed tyre. "So when you have been in the position that we have come from, raising millions of dollars in sponsorship to compete and then not to have the opportunity to choose the tyre you feel is appropriate, you don't have to think too hard about what is best," he continued. "So for sure, having a one-tyre rule is attractive to an independent team like ours because that eliminates that element of whether we have tyres that are as good as the competition or not. Of course, this is assuming the rule would guarantee all teams had the same tyres to choose from..." A decision on the proposed single tyre rule is due to be made during the Malaysian Grand Prix weekend, on October 19-21.

Maybe if they had a decent bike / rider combo they'd have attracted more sponsors? WTF is he thinking hiring Kurtis? There's got to be a point where nepotism just ISN'T in your best interest...maybe he's just a cheap old bugger and Kurtis probably works cheap (who would pay him a lot of coin based on his results?) I agree. Sponsors want winners. I also think Kurtis was a very bad move for the team to win any races.