With at least two teams struggling with their finances (http://www.motoreview.net/news/misc/0803rumourmill/) atm, rumours of a longer season, the introduction of 800cc bikes and the ever-nearing ban on tobacco sponsorship, are the days of private teams numbered?

No more Sito Pons team or WCM this year, and with the above changes on the cards, I'm a bit considered that the answer is 'yes'. :?

It's a vicious circle. If teams can't be competitive they won't get sponsors, and vice versa. And without factory money, it will surely get harder and harder to get a team (or even a single bike) on the grid for a whole season.

The only safety nets I can see are that factory teams will always be keen to groom future champions and satellite teams are arguably the best way to go about that. Plus Dorna won't want to see ever-shortening entry lists and might be willing to put a bit of cash in to save teams from extinction, as has happened in Formula One on a couple of occasions. Not the nicest of situations though, and I do have a nasty feeling things will get worse rather than better, at least in the short term.

Or am I just a cynical git? :lol: