[kropotkin thinks...] - Bautista In Talks With Suzuki For 2010, Simoncelli To Gresini

[Ninjette Newsbot]

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Regardless of the outcome of this year's 250cc championship, that series' two biggest names will be leaving for greener pastures at the end of the year. Both Alvaro Bautista and Marco Simoncelli intend to step up a class for the 2010 season, though they seem set to go in quite different directions.

The man whose future seems clearest is Alvaro Bautista. For according to the Spanish website Motoworld.es, Bautista is in negotiations to join the Rizla Suzuki team in 2010. Motoworld.es is reporting that representatives for the Spanish 250 star have been talking to Paul Denning about joining Suzuki, as Bautista is determined to sign with a factory team, which leaves Suzuki as the only option. The Hamamatsu factory was given a dispensation from the so-called Rookie Rule which prevents riders eligible for the Rookie Of The Year award from going straight to a factory team, as Suzuki only fields two bikes and does not have a satellite squad which they can use to nurture newcomers to the class.

According to Motoworld.es, Bautista is most likely to be replacing Chris Vermeulen at Suzuki, as the Australian has an offer from another team for next season, though the site does not say which team that might be. Like Bautista, Vermeulen is keen to remain on satellite equipment, and at the moment, there are appear to be very few factory seats open.

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