The silly season is upon us, with riders from both MotoGP & WSB trying to wrap up deals for 2010. Rumours abound, and many people are concerned about the future of MotoGP, with the grid scarcely containing the 18 bikes required.

With the introduction of Moto2 next year which will replace the 250cc 2 strokes, the gloves are now off between WSK & MotoGP. Even Rossi has mentioned that the factories are in total control on MotoGP, and WSB is looking more exciting than MotoGP.

Lorenzo has reportedly demanded the same salary as Rossi (about US$20M per year), which was to say the least, rather amusing to the Yamaha bosses! Lorenzo has basically demanded more millions from Yamaha (more than his current salary of US$4M), or has threatened to walk, but what he forgets is that the Yamaha M1 is currently considered the best bike on the track, thanks to Rossi's computer brain, so I doubt that Lorenzo would be as competetive on another machine.

Chris Vermeulen and James Toseland, are likely to return to WSB, unless they find a ride in the MotoGP paddock pretty soon. Vermeulen has even offered to ride for free in MotoGP, if he can get on a winning bike! (Ducati are you listening?). Vermeulen is rumoured to be moving to the Alstare Suzuki team, with Toseland back to Ten Kate Honda (where he won the 2007 WSB championship).

Ben Spies has signed with Yamaha for two years, first another year in WSB for 2010, with some wildcard MotoGP races, and then a full MotoGP season for Yamaha in 2011, which means that Lorenzo is sure to be looking for work by 2011. If Lorenzo moves sooner, then Spies might move to MotoGP sooner.

Who has signed for 2010 already? We already know that Melandri has signed for Gresini Honda, Rossi has signed with Yamaha, Marco Simoncelli has signed for Gresini Honda, so he will come up from 250's to be Melandri's team mate (the two Marco's in the same team, how cute). Simoncelli's deal is quite special though, as Gresini is a satellite Honda team, but his deal is that he gets a factory bike (wonder how Melandri feels about that one?). Alex De Angelis is also pissed off, as Simoncelli has taken his ride...

We will let you know if Nicky Hayden is riding for Ducati again next year, as he has not comitted to the option of a second year yet. And Casey Stoner, back from illness? What about Colin Edwards? Watch this space...