Silly Season Rumor Report
Friday, September 30, 2011 | 10:50 AM
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Two weeks ago, word leaked out of California that American Suzuki was laying off over 30 people, including long-time racing bosses Ray Tetherton and Mike Webb, as well as a variety of folks from a variety of departments. Sad news, personally, for those people, as although layoffs are more common than usual these days, it doesn’t make them any less painful. Hopefully everyone involved can find work again soon.
This news also led to wild rumors about Suzuki shutting down its factory racing effort, and since the team previously announced that Brett Metcalfe was returning to the team for 2012 to complete his two-year deal, it appeared Metty could be stuck jobless.
Despite rumors, Metty will be back on a Suzuki next year.
Photo: Simon Cudby
We’ve spent the last two weeks digging into this story, and it might not be as wild as it first sounded. This week, a Suzuki spokesperson (from Suzuki’s PR firm) could only confirm that the “racing program is currently under a reorganization.” We believe that Webb and Tetherton may end up being rehired by Yoshimura and essentially running the same factory Suzuki team from there. Just a few seasons ago, the Suzuki factory mechanics were actually reassigned in a similar way, taken off of the Suzuki payroll and taken over by Yoshimura, and no one watching the races could even tell the difference. Yoshimura’s headquarters also house the factory Suzuki race shop, and they’ve been running Suzuki’s highly-successful AMA Pro Road Racing effort for quite some time.
This move could end up being nothing more than a business and accounting decision, with Webb and Tetherton ending up back to work, Metcalfe having a ride, and the same mechanics (minus Mike Gosselaar, who has been hired by TwoTwo Motorsports) and the same 18-wheeler going to the races. By the time the 2012 season begins in January, we might forget about all of this.
But it could have other impacts. Since the summer, rumors have been swirling of James Stewart potentially linking with Suzuki, possibly with his own team, possibly with the factory Suzuki squad, or, more recently, we heard with a Joe Gibbs Racing Suzuki team.
Where will Stewart land for 2012?
Photo: Simon Cudby
However, the reorganization at Suzuki could potentially hold up any such deals. At this time, Suzuki may not be in position to present a good enough offer to land Stewart, JGR, or a combination of both. We also hear that Yamaha could still be in the mix in terms of the kind of support they can provide. The Monster Energy Cup is just a few weeks away, and it would make a perfect place for a rider to get to know his new bike and team. But a deal would need to come together soon if a rider wants to get in any testing time on the new bike before the event. And the longer this goes on, the later the start on testing.
Putting all of these pieces together, we’ll throw out a theory based on everything we’ve heard, but it’s only a guess: what if Stewart and JGR went the simplest route of all, and just teamed up to race on Yamahas?
Expect an answer soon, be it blue, yellow, red, or anything else. Stay tuned.
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Stewie+JGR+Suzuki= Total Domination
OCT 1st is tomorrow, Most Contracts end at mid night tonight!!! Lots of news next week I bet!!! Can't wait!!
" Silly Season "....almost seems like an under-statement this year....I remeber back in the day (80's early 90s) when you didnt know who was riding for who sometimes until they rolled up to the track for round 1 in SX......now with all the communication technology and people twittering everytime they take a piss.....nothing is secret and the rumors just bouce around like boobs on a rollercoaster....all in all its good for the sport and keeps people informed ....but sometimes it turns into a drama filled mess.....Would love to see JS7 on the Suzuki....I think JS7 on a Honda would be better... but that wont happen....maybe someday.....
Well, after Stewart not racing the nationals for the last couple of years, I really could care less if he races at all in 2012. He has the talent to break all the records, but he's either letting his show, want for money, lack of desire, or some unknown thing stand in his way. If it's contracts, he should only sign if he can do what he wants to do. Maybe start his own team so that he can do just that. Lost a lot of respect for him because he didn't race the nationals the last few years, got arrested and had the reality show on TV. I think he needs to get his head on straight and do what he wants to do.....be a reality TV star....or one of the best motocross/supercross racers ever. Right now, I don't care which he does. Love to watch him ride, though.
I have also now heard of JS7 riding for a new Red Bull backed Suzuki team. It seems very possible...
It’s hard to believe that this close to the new contract season no one really knows or leaked out with James is really up too. Usually way before the old Rockstar US Open race here in Vegas we had a clue who was riding what. This will be interesting for sure what color he shows up on.
cant blame the bike if he gets on Suzuki- or will he?
Jason Weigandt,
I don't know if it's coincidence or if you read my comment to you yesterday but thank you for some "silly season" updates. I know there is a LOT more out there so I look forward to hearing more. Thanks again.
Confirmation needed on recent rumor:
I recently heard (within the NASCAR circle) that RedBull was pulling out of all North American motorsports racing, and focusing on the Euro/Asia market only. This would definitely have an impact on JS7's decision making. Has anyone heard this rumor?
Weak article, we knew all that!
@ Killswitch202,, I agree... Its almost unbelievable how quiet the JS Camp has been this whole summer and into fall.
so now that they said that mike gosseler was hired by two two motorsports that basically means that we know where dungey is going to be..riding a honda should be interesting
RD will be on a KTM not a Honda.
Alessi to ride for McGrath/Brooks in 2012? I
am i the only one that heard JS7 inked a deal with Rupp?
I am just gonna wait till the facts come out. WE all will know come Ana 1. Then the racing starts.
@motoMad724- I was at my local lawnmower shop this week and heard the same thing. Bubbles will ride the new 6 horsepower Rupp. He shouldn't be able to hurt anyone but himself on that thing. lol
Wow Alessi going country, going to ride for Garth Brooks in 2012?
Gosselar was hired as a "crew chief" for Two Two.....not a mechanic per say....Not sure what a "crew chief" does in the MX world when you have Lars spinning the wrenches and Osterman running the show....Does any other MX/SX team have a crew chief?
Dungey will annouce the KTM deal once its officiall I am sure.
As far as JS7 camp being quiet this summer....well, they (L&M) were not going to race the MX series anyway, but then tried to make it happen....all the legal nonsense that is going on behind the scenes made it too complicated..if you read the interview with the " M of L&M", its appears things are/were a mess.....Keeping quiet until things are final, like Dungey is doing is the correct and professional way to deal with it.....JS7 will announce his plans as soon as it is official....we would all like to know now, but in due time we will....
Hopefully, we'll know actual facts a week from now, or maybe even a few days from now.
This doesn't really belong here, but got to give it up to Greg Hancock for winning the World Speedway championship at 41 years old. I know Speedway is kind of quirky sport that's largely ignored in the US, and way less accessible than MX, but that's still quite an accomplishment.
@MX Bob, cool update! I saw Greg and Billy Hamill sometime back racing at Costa Mesa. Those guys were smooth and fast.
@czmark....The deal is with Rupp motorsports yes, but the motor will be a 7.5 hp briggs n stratton, wait thats not it, the secret is,, the Hodaka high strength power band, ya know, not the cheap rubber power bands other teams use. Now everyone is in the know,...your welcome Joe.
@joemotocross589, I heard there were offers from both Taco and Steens Hodaka too.
CR22 wants to race and he made it happen with team twotwo.
If js7 wanted to race he could have made it happen. bottom line.
He has everything and more that someone like CR22 has; talent, money, sponsors & agents who want to work with him and can make it happen.
I doubt yamaha wanted him parked while suzuki, kawi and honda were killing it outdoors this summer, 1st time televised live on fuel tv, lots of new fans etc...I have to think yamaha would have made it happen for him if he wanted it bad enough.
JS7 what a talent, great story, awesome to watch, super fast, I cant wait to see him race, buts its getting to the point where the silence and lack of participation is nagatively affecting his persona/image reputation in my opinion.
I would like to see JS7 on Red or Yellow. His legal whoa’s a huge part of the secretive summer. He'll probably end up back on a Yamaha. If he ends up with JGR, why throw all the time, money, and research away that they spent trying to dial that bike in? It’s really not the bike, in 09; he had the same problems on the old conventional motor set-up.
JS7
You can not blame the bike for his crashes. He crashed the green bike just as much as the blue bike..... And my guess is he will crash a yellow, red or orange bike just as often. JS7 does two things better than everybody, he goes fast and crashes often.
Why wouldn't Reed take over Suzuki's defunct team?He's already won a championship on a Suzuki and Goose knows the bike inside and out. Suzuki needs an mx team to sell bikes and Reed has a front running team that needs big money. Right now, he's basicly giving Honda free advertising and is getting limited support that will become even more limited when the factory riders get healthy and return. Why put Goose to work on an unfamiliar bike?
Sure are a LOT of comments and interest in this article. Take notes Racer X. This is the kind of material your readers want. Please more updates on more riders and other teams!!!
Btw, American Honda has announced J. Brayton, T. Canard, and A. Fiolek for 2012.
I couldn't agree more with randy0017. A lot of Bubba fans have been let down time and again. I used to be a huge fan, but because of his lack of riding what is there to be a MX fan of? I certainly didn't miss him this past year with all the good clean racing and less drama. He just needs to either start racing or go do something else.
kas447mx : Do you really think that if they had info on this stuff they wouldn't post it? Like any type of news site, they will post it as soon as they get the info, if your not first your last.
That was an interesting comment about Reed riding yellow in 2012. Would make sense for Suzuki to sub-out factory support to a top-rated (and former yellow champion) along with keeping Goose in yellow. Can't wait to see how all of this shakes out on Monday.
mxkid98,,, matbe thats what Suz is doing to JS ... I think it may be hard to get Reed off the Honda...
My weed whacker dealer last week and he told me JS7 was riding the Rupp but it will be hand made at the old Bultaco factory in the mountains of Spain.
Can't wait to see the chrome fuel Tank
mxmofo1:
Doesn't make sense for Gosselar to go "Red" after all his Yellow years. There is too much Suzuki RM450Z technical knowledge that Team Yellow would let go...unless...Goose doesn't want to wrench anymore and aspires to move into an advisory role (or maybe oversee all R&D). Could be that Suzuki wouldn't support his aspirations under their tent (or maybe they are...under 22Motorsports) if/when CR22 goes yellow for 2012??? With Rockstar/Suzuki not having a "premier rider" now...and the RUMOR of RedBull pulling out of all US motorsports racing...and RUMOR(S) of JS7 riding yellow bikes down in Haynesville, FL...well...is it possible that we might see JS7 drinking Rockstars on the podium(s) in 2012???
I would honestly like to know where you all come up with Goose moving to Two Two and Dungey to KTM. Anyone have proof? Would like to see it myself.
Scratch the Goose Question. My Bad!
Hey folks, thanks for the relatively sane comments. We can tell you this--Goose is 100 percent for sure at TwoTwo Motorsports and Dungey is 100 percent for sure at KTM. Didn't realize there was any surprise left there, we've repeated it in Racerhead several times.
KTM PR on Dungey should be out shortly. Not sure if TwoTwo is putting out a PR about getting Goose but it's a done deal.
Now the JS7 situation has to be handled, he's the last big dangling carrot out there.
mxkid98,, Why not ? Suk is in money troubles and Goose got out of there.. Look at DeCoster ? He obviously knew something was going on at Suzuki and scrammed. Its all about money....
OK everybody. We all know Dungey is going Orange and Gosselaar is going 22, but what about everybody else. Need lots more info on the Satellite teams!!!
Suzuki(Rockstar), KTM (JDR) Yamaha(DNA Shred Stix), Suzuki City Arma Team, Hart & Huntington, Moto Concepts, Rock River, BTO, 11-10 Mods, Etc, Etc, Etc!!!!
Keep the info coming guys!!!
RacingfortheSon: I know they report on the "official" deals. I'm looking for more than that. I want to know who is talking to who and some "expert" opinions about where they feel different riders will end up. Weege says JS7 is the last "BIG dangling carrot out there". Well I (and I would imagine most others) am also interested in the "small dangling carrots". Similar to what Johnmotoman said, there are a bunch of satellite teams who don't have all their riders signed and a bunch of top 20 guys who haven't signed anywhere. Surely there are rumors out there and teams in contact with different riders that we could hear about.
blah, blah, blah blah blah.....
Everyone, shut up and go ride!!!! It's FRIDAY!!
Goose worked for Honda for what, 20 years. I don't think going to a Honda team would be a problem.
Right on MX Bob,Goose followed Carmichael to Slowzuki when he left Honda.
Goose had (2) perfect 24-0 seasons at Honda, one with a 2 stroke, and one with a 4 stroke. I'm sure he could figure it out. The Suzuki's must have given him a bad taste in his mouth anyway, after all thats happened during this past year. If anybody needs a change color, it's goose.
pulpmx tweets: "Looks like JGR will be Yamaha mounted in 2012 and beyond, not done for sure but looks that way. So now the ball is in James court..."
JS7 does NOT have all the talent to break all the records. He's shown that time and again. He has to push it too hard to go faster than everyone else, and he can't get comfortable. That leads to wrecks, and losses. He's a bad, bad dude but his window is closing. And there won't be any dominance this year, or......no matter what he rides. I will say he looked a lot more comfortable on the Kawi than big blue
I think Chad should hire Stewart- the dream team.
MX Bob, WFO_UFO,kram:
I'm going to take back my previous opinion regarding TwoTwo Motorsports going Yellow in 2012, because it "appears" that there are some "issues" at American Suzuki. Probably why Mike Gosselaar jumped ship after their lay-offs and financial woes. I think you're probably correct with Gosselaar returning to the Red machines (after all...he started with Lamson, then Lusk...and picked up RC when things went south with Chad Watts). It would be safe to say that Gosselaar will not wrench for any rider who doesn’t put in as much effort and dedication as he does…hence his path to TwoTwo Motorsports seems a no-brainer given Reeds dedication, efforts and performance in 2011.
I hope to see Stewart racing the nationals next summer.... Other than that who cares what bike he is riding !
Bob Hannah to Big Daddy Don Garlitz new MX team on a turbo charged Rokon, maybe
I dont care what bike Stewi races, as long as he races. I just love to watch him crash. The over under on what laps getting easier. I think he crashed more times in one nite than Reed did all year. That explains why Reed was only beat by the racer who will beat Stewis sx win total. I think Reeds only won away from tying the fastest crasher on the planet in sx wins,and Reed has more podiums than anyone. Dont hate the truth
a top-5 for bubba james in 2012 will be good for him, don't expect more from him :), it's over for bubba, he's past his prime :), he can't win another ama first class title, he never deal with the RC pressure and now he should deal with 5 or 6 other champions determination, he can still be the fastest at some races but with very fast guys always on his wheel he will crash every 2 races and we also know that it can fall only by himself like at daytona this year
Ha ha Stewie past his prime, old ass fart should be on Team Wheelchair. But you are right Johnny Banjo, he snaps under pressure.
well i said five- six years ago when my son and i stoped racing because of the cost of four stroke racing.the four strokes have killed the sport! the life blood of any sport is new (young) participants. no matter how many championships you win (suzuki) if people,(kids) cant afford the bikes nor the cost of racing them,rebuilding them etc. well you know the saying win on sunday sell on monday.not anymore folks. pay the fu@k attention manufactures!
Whoever wrote this article needs to work on their grammar and sentence structure.
Forgot to add.
So suzuki is cutting back? Even if they are going to JGR, they're cutting out the Rockstar program it seems. Yamaha is pretty much done shelling out factory support as well. Honda makes kids ride on their family's own budget - Barcia and Wharton their first few seasons. I'll bet Bogle gets nothing. So in other words, the only 2 companies really putting down the factory support are Kawasaki and KTM.
Looks like motocross is dying down. I don't think this sport will last much longer. If it does, it will and always be a 3rd class sport. What a shame.
Satellite teams are a fking joke.
LAST COMMENT, I swear.
20,000 -30,000 motocross fans show up to a race. Who is getting that money? Cause it sure aint the riders - aka the ones putting their life on the line. Some people say they make good money, but compared to other professional athletes? Not at all. Motocross athletes deserve to be paid football salaries for all that they risk.
Some people on these forum's just leave me wondering sometimes. Stewart HAD a "Supercross Only" contract with L&M racing, if he road outdoors without their consent it would be treated as breach of contract. Which in result, would give him even more legal problems to worry about. Now that he is finally out of this contract hopefully we can see him on a team that does both circuits, instead of supercross only.
JS7 will be back with vengeance and I can't imagine how exciting this season is going to be with all the heavy hitters in the mix AGAIN!
WOW! did anyone read the MOTO-CONCEPTS line-up? I think that will be a pretty decent team, they are def stepping it up. So happy that Tommy Hahn left M-C and finally on a team that he can do work on!
Stewart already signed with JGR/Suzuki
Got a quick question, Y r some pep names highlighted in bold red and some in black? Just wondering.
Bubba and JBone back together?! lethal.
@concealedGSXR
There's no such thing as JGR Suzuki, sorry but i think you made that up.
@Pug
After the announcement you can say your sorry!
Whatever the announcement you can bet that JS7 will quickly learn a brand new disrespect for THAT brand and continuing dissing his once loyal fans. Bunch of effin' bee ess for the factory that considers him an asset inside of the wild liability he's proven to be. Times up JS7! Grab your time card and punch out. YOU'RE FIRED!
HERE'S A THOUGHT! Maybe 22 Motosports will hire JS7...so Chad can fire him!