By Dan Moakes
November 11 2004

As ever, the rumour mill goes into overdrive towards the end of the season. Talk in the paddock will always suggest that one man is heading for the sack, and the next man is coming in to replace him. Some fairly crazy ideas turn out to be true, while more reasonable ones do not.

So, what has been said so far about possible contracts for next year, and has anyone made the move that rumour has suggested? Here is a round up of what might (or might not) be happening in 2005.

Moto Grand Prix

Which team will be Honda’s full works represetative? Could the Telefónica Gresini squad be outsing the familiar Repsol team? And who is to be employed where by Honda - could Makoto Tamada be taking over Alex Barros’ Repsol RCV, or will it be Max Biaggi. We do know that Nicky Hayden is to be retained, but Colin Edwards is moving on, and perhaps Barros will be moved sideways.

The WCM team are switching to a Blata V6 motor for their 2005 bike, and British Superbike Supercup winner James Ellison has now been confirmed as riding for the team.

Proton KR have tested a KTM V4 motor but, although it has been reported that they will be sticking with their own V5, apparently the motor is on its way out.

Is John Hopkins to move on from Suzuki, and might Neil Hodgson, or Shane Byrne, or even Max Biaggi be replacing him? And is Troy Bayliss on his way back to World Superbikes? It seems he is being replaced at Ducati but, rather than go back a step to WSB, he has apparently been in talks with Kawasaki’s MotoGP team.

Is Carlos Checa moving to Ducati, and is Colin Edwards taking his place as Valentino Rossi’s team-mate? It seems the answer is yes to the second part. It also seems that Norick Abe will lose his Yamaha seat, whereas team-mate Marco Melandri is looking for a chance to move to Honda.

World Superbikes

It seems Chris Walker is on his way back to a four-cylinder machine with PSG-1 Kawasaki, whereas Frankie Chili is leaving the team, as he would rather ride a Ducati or a Honda. He is reportedly unhappy that the team switched their bike deal without consulting him.

Meanwhile, Tory Corser has definitely left Foggy Petronas, and suggestions place him, with Yukio Kagayama possibly, at the returning Alstare Suzuki squad. Who will ride the FP1 in ’05?

Yamaha are returning to the fray with the pairing of Noriyuki Haga and Andrew Pitt. They will ride the R1 for Yamaha Italia.

And the big question remains - who goes, stays or joins the all-conquering works Ducati Corse? Will James Toseland be rewarded with a MotoGP ride, and will Régis Laconi be dropped? Stay tuned...

British Superbikes

Yukio Kagayama has been moved out of the Rizla Suzuki, as suggested above, and his replacement is Hawk Kawasaki’s rapidly improving Scott Smart. The Englishman’s replacement will be Dean Thomas, making an all-Australian partnership with Glen Richards. Champion John Reynolds stays with Rizla.

Virgin Yamaha finished the season with a four-man rider strength, plus the incoming Richard Wren - top man from the R6 Cup. The team has opted to retain the promising Tommy Hill, Wren’s predecessor, and has dropped Steve Plater, James Haydon and Gary Mason. These three will surely get picked up by other teams. Meanwhile, the new team leader will be Sean Emmett, who rode the R1 in the second half of 2002.

GSE Racing have announced that they will make a return to competition in 2005. They previously won the BSB title in both 1999 and 2000, before moving to the World Championship. Leon Haslam and James Haydon are rumoured to be joining them.

Another rumour has linked Steve Plater with the Sendo Ducati team.

This site will try and keep you up-to-date with developments...

STOP PRESS: click here for the first fairly comprehensive provisional entry list for British Superbikes 2005.