Tying Up Loose Ends

Sources are telling us today that Japanese superstar Shinya Nakano has signed for Luca Montiron's satellite Honda outfit for 2007. The team have recently renewed their sponsorship contract with Konica Minolta and will return to Bridgestone tires next season.

Nakano looks set to make his final appearance with Kawasaki at the Valencia Grand Prix, and it looks like the pen will hit the Honda paperwork (officially) over the course of the weekend at the Ricardo Tormo circuit, close to the town of Cheste.

Nakano has ridden for team-green for three season's having formerly impressed on a third-string Yamaha four-stroke machine, riding for Luis D'antin. Nakano has failed to win a race for Kawasaki, but is highly regarded in the paddock as one of the unsung heroes in MotoGP, his full potential yet to be seen -- so say those that know these things.

Kawasaki are talking to several riders with a view to replacing the amiable Shinya, with Sete Gibernau, Alex Barros and 250cc rider Hiroshi Aoyama on the recent short list. Aoyama has confirmed that he has been approached, but our source reports that Aoyama is likely to remain in the quarter-litre class with Harold Bartol's KTM outfit for '07.

With Nakano departing to Japan Italy Racing, Kawasaki could well put their money on Makoto Tamada, who looks to be out of work after a dissapointing 2006 campaign. Tamada would be a perfect fit in terms of experience, salary expectations and with a knowledge of Bridgestone race rubber. Randy De Puniet will remain in place with Kawasaki as he has a two-year contract.

Sete Gibernau will be replaced by Casey Stoner at Marlboro Ducati, Carlos Checa, in turn, will replace Stoner at LCR Honda and Toni Elias will again team with Marco Melandri for Fausto Gresini with Melandri rumored to be running a third factory spec machine.

Alex Hofmann is believed to be close to re-signing with Pramac D'antin Ducati, an announcement to follow soon, so we are told. Tech 3 Yamaha, D'antin Ducati and Ilmor (if they run two bikes) are the only current MotoGP teams with 'situations vacant'.

Stay tuned.