VOL. 51 ISSUE 20 MAY 20, 2014 P21
years with the official Repsol
Honda squad, and expressed
the proper happiness at the pub-
lic announcement.
"I feel so good with this team
and I think they feel good with
me," he said.
Not disclosed was the fee, and
when asked whether the terms
now broke Valentino Rossi's con-
tract record, he demurred. "I am
21 years old, and I am not think-
ing about the money," he said.
The rumored Rossi record was
set when he moved from Yamaha
to Ducati, thought to be some $12
million per year. Rossi laughed,
and said: "Sincerely, I don't re-
member the amount. But it was a
lot more than I am paid now."
Marquez's decision made little
difference to the feverishly pre-
mature speculation about other
riders, since nobody expected
him to move.
Nor are other major moves
likely. Rossi again confirmed he
plans to stay two more years with
Yamaha; and while Jorge Loren-
zo is said to be considering a big-
money offer from Ducati, he too
is expected to stay put.
Dani Pedrosa's place with
Honda is only a little less certain,
and his name has been linked
with Suzuki, for the factory's im-
minent return. Andrea Dovizioso
is also penciled in for the Suzuki
job, although without much con-
fidence.
Suzuki test-team manager Da-
vide Brivio was in Le Mans, along
with test rider Randy de Puniet,
and said, "we are a long way from
deciding on riders. I am going to
Japan this week and we will dis-
cuss it to see who we want, and
who will be willing to take the risk."
Michael Scott
"So tell me, how much they pay?" Marc Marquez (right) has signed a two-
year contract extension with Honda. Valentino Rossi (left) is the record
holder for making the most money in MotoGP racing.
PHOTOGRAPHY
BY
GOLD
&
GOOSE
HAYDEN'S INJURY WOES
N
icky Hayden was relying on the needle at the
French round of the MotoGP World Champion-
ship, after an unexpected return of his own right-
hand problems at the last round at Jerez.
Pain and swelling from some loosened internal
screws spoiled the end of his last season, but he
thought it was over.
"Everything was fine," Hayden said at Le Mans.
"I had surgery in November, it was healed up and
felt really good, then in Jerez during qualifying
something happened to irritate the joint. That night
it swelled up and Sunday was really difficult.
"Since then it's improved a little, but it's barely
been a week and now I'm back on the bike, so…
it's half-and-half a return of the same problem. It's
too many times broken."
Michael Scott
FILE
PHOTOGRAPHY
BY
GOLD
&
GOOSE
