Capirossi to join Suzuki in 2008

Off-topic
1

Veteran MotoGP rider Loris Capirossi will race for Suzuki next season with an option to stay on in 2009.

The 34-year-old Italian is being replaced at current team Ducati by Marco Melandri next year.

Capirossi held talks with Ducati about staying on but was unhappy with the way the team handled Melandri’s signing.

“The moment has come for a change and to try new challenges,” said Capirossi, who will ride alongside Australian Chris Vermeulen at Suzuki.

There are eight rounds to go in this season’s MotoGP championship, beginning with this weekend’s Czech GP.

Capirossi, who is in his 18th season in world championship motorcycling, is eighth in the overall standings.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/motorsport/motorbikes/6949548.stm

2

Can’t see it being a bad thing for Suzuki but nor can I see him joining the team being all that great either.

Tosland would have been a much better choice age, fitness levels, and a ever improving machine all going for him and Tosland hunger to win helping Suzuki.

3

my feeling is that 2008 will be the last season we see loris in moto gp and probably racing full stop.

after his injuries last year (where we know he was a title contender until sete had a howler) he just has not had the results

this would be a great shame,as i’ve been a fan since his 125gp days. i wish him the best of luck!!!

4

I’ve always been a fan of Loris…I like his honesty…and his ability to just shut up and ride…no whining.

That being said, I’d really rather see him take his millions and retire to Monaco…he has taken a TERRIBLE beating these last few years and it seems to have cost him some of his ability to ride at the limit. I just don’t want to see him hang on too long and diminish the memory of his once awesome skills. shrug