Davies to replace Hoffman for the rest of the year
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From: RIP Craig Jones
Davies to replace Hoffman for the rest of the year
w00t 
Go Chaz!
http://www.motorcyclenews.com/...mann/
<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote »</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Chaz Davies is expected to ride in the last four races of the 2007 MotoGP world championship after German Alex Hofmann was axed last night from the D’Antin Ducati squad.
Davies, who raced in the final round of the American Supersport and Formula Xtreme races in Laguna Seca yesterday (Sunday), will now fly to Japan to contest this weekend's Twin Ring Motegi GP with a deal expected to be confirmed later on today.
He will also partner veteran Brazilian Alex Barros in Phillip Island, Sepang and Valencia after Hofmann was dumped following his controversial retirement from Sunday's Estoril GP in Portugal. Hofmann's sacking was confirmed in a statement released by the D'Antin team at midnight last night.
The short statement read: “After the Grand Prix of Portugal, during which Alex Hofmann entered the pit boxes with 17 laps remaining, and said, "I don´t have the motivation to fight for the last positions', the team management of Pramac-d´Antin have decided to release Hofmann from his contractual obligations for the remainder of the 2007 MotoGP season."
Hofmann retired from the 28-lap race citing a lack of motivation after he was running in last place and six seconds adrift of the field.
His retirement incensed team boss Luis D'Antin, who acted swiftly to axe him for the remainder of the season and sign Davies as his replacement.
If a deal is confirmed later today, it will be the second time this season that Davies has stepped in to replace Hofmann. The British rider was drafted in as a last-minute replacement for Hofmann in July's American GP in Laguna Seca after the former factory Kawasaki rider suffered a serious left hand injury in the opening practice session.
Davies, who completed a two-day test session in Mugello last week and is being lined up for a test rider with Bridgestone and Ducati in 2008, spoke to MCN from Laguna Seca and said: "I have been contacted by Ducati and the team and it's all a bit of a shock. At the moment I'm waiting for an e-mail to confirm everything but obviously I'd love to do it. It would be awesome."
D'Antin was livid after Hofmann inexplicably went public about the reasons why he had retired in Estoril.
D'Antin couldn't hide his frustration and disappointment at Hofmann's actions and he said: "I think that lack of motivation is not an excuse for us, and therefore the team reserves the right to make a decision on whether or not he will continue racing with us for the remainder of the season."
What had got D'Antin in such a rage was when Hofmann said: "Today was not my day. First, I had a problem with my A bike while I was going to the starting grid, so I had to come back into the pits and change to my B bike. After the race started and I saw I was six seconds back from the last person, I couldn't find the motivation to continue fighting only to remain last. I'm very sorry for reacting in this way."</TD></TR></TABLE>
Go Chaz!http://www.motorcyclenews.com/...mann/
<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote »</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Chaz Davies is expected to ride in the last four races of the 2007 MotoGP world championship after German Alex Hofmann was axed last night from the D’Antin Ducati squad.
Davies, who raced in the final round of the American Supersport and Formula Xtreme races in Laguna Seca yesterday (Sunday), will now fly to Japan to contest this weekend's Twin Ring Motegi GP with a deal expected to be confirmed later on today.
He will also partner veteran Brazilian Alex Barros in Phillip Island, Sepang and Valencia after Hofmann was dumped following his controversial retirement from Sunday's Estoril GP in Portugal. Hofmann's sacking was confirmed in a statement released by the D'Antin team at midnight last night.
The short statement read: “After the Grand Prix of Portugal, during which Alex Hofmann entered the pit boxes with 17 laps remaining, and said, "I don´t have the motivation to fight for the last positions', the team management of Pramac-d´Antin have decided to release Hofmann from his contractual obligations for the remainder of the 2007 MotoGP season."
Hofmann retired from the 28-lap race citing a lack of motivation after he was running in last place and six seconds adrift of the field.
His retirement incensed team boss Luis D'Antin, who acted swiftly to axe him for the remainder of the season and sign Davies as his replacement.
If a deal is confirmed later today, it will be the second time this season that Davies has stepped in to replace Hofmann. The British rider was drafted in as a last-minute replacement for Hofmann in July's American GP in Laguna Seca after the former factory Kawasaki rider suffered a serious left hand injury in the opening practice session.
Davies, who completed a two-day test session in Mugello last week and is being lined up for a test rider with Bridgestone and Ducati in 2008, spoke to MCN from Laguna Seca and said: "I have been contacted by Ducati and the team and it's all a bit of a shock. At the moment I'm waiting for an e-mail to confirm everything but obviously I'd love to do it. It would be awesome."
D'Antin was livid after Hofmann inexplicably went public about the reasons why he had retired in Estoril.
D'Antin couldn't hide his frustration and disappointment at Hofmann's actions and he said: "I think that lack of motivation is not an excuse for us, and therefore the team reserves the right to make a decision on whether or not he will continue racing with us for the remainder of the season."
What had got D'Antin in such a rage was when Hofmann said: "Today was not my day. First, I had a problem with my A bike while I was going to the starting grid, so I had to come back into the pits and change to my B bike. After the race started and I saw I was six seconds back from the last person, I couldn't find the motivation to continue fighting only to remain last. I'm very sorry for reacting in this way."</TD></TR></TABLE>
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Re: Davies to replace Hoffman for the rest of the year (Jasper_db1)
<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Jasper_db1 »</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Awesome!
His talent was being wasted in AMA anyway
</TD></TR></TABLE>
Agreed. for Chaz! Hey did you ever get you bike sorted for CASBS L3?
His talent was being wasted in AMA anyway
</TD></TR></TABLE>Agreed.
for Chaz! Hey did you ever get you bike sorted for CASBS L3?
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Re: Davies to replace Hoffman for the rest of the year (hybridreams)
<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by hybridreams »</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">[cough]duhamel's as big a bamma as hoffman and should've been dropped for hayes[/cough]
</TD></TR></TABLE>
you're a ******* douchebag for even thinking that the 2 incidents can be compared. Hoffman is paid to race MotoGP. Duhamel got a wild card spot and after crashing hard in the morning found it real hard to get comfortable on the bike during the race. I give him more props for coming back and admitting he just wasn't comfortable and didn't wanna crash it or get in the way of the leaders... completely different.
to Davies
</TD></TR></TABLE>you're a ******* douchebag for even thinking that the 2 incidents can be compared. Hoffman is paid to race MotoGP. Duhamel got a wild card spot and after crashing hard in the morning found it real hard to get comfortable on the bike during the race. I give him more props for coming back and admitting he just wasn't comfortable and didn't wanna crash it or get in the way of the leaders... completely different.
to Davies
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Re: Davies to replace Hoffman for the rest of the year (EngineNoO9)
<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by EngineNoO9 »</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">
you're a ******* douchebag for even thinking that the 2 incidents can be compared. Hoffman is paid to race MotoGP. Duhamel got a wild card spot and after crashing hard in the morning found it real hard to get comfortable on the bike during the race. I give him more props for coming back and admitting he just wasn't comfortable and didn't wanna crash it or get in the way of the leaders... completely different.
to Davies</TD></TR></TABLE>
I was half joking but if you want to call me a ******* douchebag you can go blow yourself.
HOWEVER - feel free to call me a ******* douchebag if you don't think that a Hodgson/Hayes team would be better than a Hodgson/Duhamel team. I was dead serious about that part..
you're a ******* douchebag for even thinking that the 2 incidents can be compared. Hoffman is paid to race MotoGP. Duhamel got a wild card spot and after crashing hard in the morning found it real hard to get comfortable on the bike during the race. I give him more props for coming back and admitting he just wasn't comfortable and didn't wanna crash it or get in the way of the leaders... completely different.
to Davies</TD></TR></TABLE>I was half joking but if you want to call me a ******* douchebag you can go blow yourself.
HOWEVER - feel free to call me a ******* douchebag if you don't think that a Hodgson/Hayes team would be better than a Hodgson/Duhamel team. I was dead serious about that part..
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Re: Davies to replace Hoffman for the rest of the year (hybridreams)
next year I don't think it will. Hayes needs to become more consistent. He was way too crash prone this year. He either won or crashed. He needs to do another year on supersport and win that championship then move up imo
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From: RIP Craig Jones
Re: Davies to replace Hoffman for the rest of the year (EngineNoO9)
<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by EngineNoO9 »</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">He needs to do another year on supersport and win that championship then move up imo</TD></TR></TABLE>
He won TWO FX title in a row and a superstock title. Seriously, what else does he have left to prove without going to superbike?
He won TWO FX title in a row and a superstock title. Seriously, what else does he have left to prove without going to superbike?
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Re: Davies to replace Hoffman for the rest of the year (EngineNoO9)
I suppose those spies and mladin guys shouldnt have SBK rides either then, with no supersport championships.
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Re: Davies to replace Hoffman for the rest of the year (EngineNoO9)
<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by EngineNoO9 »</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">next year I don't think it will. Hayes needs to become more consistent. He was way too crash prone this year. He either won or crashed. He needs to do another year on supersport and win that championship then move up imo</TD></TR></TABLE>
Um yeah, Hayes has 3 AMA titles and has finished in the top 5 in 6 of the 11 years he's raced AMA. He doesn't need anymore time anywhere. And honestly he was very consistent this year except for the crashes he had at Laguna. Had he not crashed back in July he would have been able to cruise to the Supersport championship.
Josh certainly has more years left in his career than Duhamel so that's something to consider but there were several reasons to keep Duhamel on the team. The most important one in my mind is the fact that his crew chief said he would retire when Miguel retires and that would not be good for the team when they are trying to develop a new bike. Luddington has worked on 4 generations of Honda superbikes so he is definitely somebody you want helping with the 2008 1000RR.
As old as Miguel is he is still riding pretty darned well. That said, I wouldn't have been upset if Hayes did get the ride either. I think with what Hayes was able to do this season and last that he will be on a good superbike next season. Whether it be Jordan Suzuki or Yamaha.
As for Hoffman and Duhamel quitting their respective races, they were both poor moves but in Hoffman's case it was pretty much chickenshit. I didn't like what Duhamel did either but at least that wasn't his full time job. Still, even if he didn't feel like he could push the bike he could have at least just brought it home. I think he didn't want to suffer the indignity of getting lapped.
Um yeah, Hayes has 3 AMA titles and has finished in the top 5 in 6 of the 11 years he's raced AMA. He doesn't need anymore time anywhere. And honestly he was very consistent this year except for the crashes he had at Laguna. Had he not crashed back in July he would have been able to cruise to the Supersport championship.
Josh certainly has more years left in his career than Duhamel so that's something to consider but there were several reasons to keep Duhamel on the team. The most important one in my mind is the fact that his crew chief said he would retire when Miguel retires and that would not be good for the team when they are trying to develop a new bike. Luddington has worked on 4 generations of Honda superbikes so he is definitely somebody you want helping with the 2008 1000RR.
As old as Miguel is he is still riding pretty darned well. That said, I wouldn't have been upset if Hayes did get the ride either. I think with what Hayes was able to do this season and last that he will be on a good superbike next season. Whether it be Jordan Suzuki or Yamaha.
As for Hoffman and Duhamel quitting their respective races, they were both poor moves but in Hoffman's case it was pretty much chickenshit. I didn't like what Duhamel did either but at least that wasn't his full time job. Still, even if he didn't feel like he could push the bike he could have at least just brought it home. I think he didn't want to suffer the indignity of getting lapped.
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Re: Davies to replace Hoffman for the rest of the year (.RJ)
<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by .RJ »</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">I suppose those spies and mladin guys shouldnt have SBK rides either then, with no supersport championships.</TD></TR></TABLE>
yup... 1000cc bikes are too much for everyone. even motogp bikes aren't 1000's /chrisyo
I'm not doubting Hayes ability cause I think he'll be competitive in superbike but there isn't any reason to get rid of Duhamel as he's still been real competitive. Arguing for a Hayes/Hodgson team is a moot point. I think a 3 man team similar to yosh suzuki though would be great where you'd add in Hayes as a 3rd rider.
yup... 1000cc bikes are too much for everyone. even motogp bikes aren't 1000's /chrisyo
I'm not doubting Hayes ability cause I think he'll be competitive in superbike but there isn't any reason to get rid of Duhamel as he's still been real competitive. Arguing for a Hayes/Hodgson team is a moot point. I think a 3 man team similar to yosh suzuki though would be great where you'd add in Hayes as a 3rd rider.
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