RICKY GETS A BIG RED OFFER–APRIL 9

According to sources inside of Team Kawasaki, Team Honda has offered Ricky Carmichael 6 million dollars to jump to Team Honda for 2002 (RC’s Kawasaki contract expires at the end of this season). The rumored sum works out to 2 million a year. Although Honda sources didn’t return phone calls, Kawasaki insiders believe that the six-million dollar deal is for a three-year contract. Carmichael reportedly makes $800,000 a year at Kawasaki.

Why would Honda open up their wallet so wide? Honda hasn’t won anything of importance in the USA since Jeremy McGrath left the red team. Right after Jeremy left, Honda went on a major spending spree (Lusk also makes a reported $800,000 a year at Honda). It has not resulted in any titles.

The word on the street is that Team Honda wants both Ricky Carmichael and Travis Pastrana. Pastrana, who everyone expects to be the rider to knock RC off of the throne, has three years to go on his new Suzuki contract, but as the insider at Team Kawasaki says, contracts are made to be broken. Team Suzukis Roger DeCoster believes its true that Honda wants Travis, but doesn’t believe that Travis three-year Suzuki contract can be broken.

However, Honda was involved in the Kevin Windham versus Yamaha incident, when they wooed him away from Team Yamaha. Windham reportedly settled with Yamaha to the tune of $100,000.

Will Ricky switch? Although Honda has the ability to wave big bucks, historically, Kawasaki has been willing to pay higher salaries than any other team. They will match whatever Honda offers.