Please click on the above image to view it larger.

If not for the anemic performance of the RCV1000R, Scott Redding would likely be giving Pol Espargaro a run for his money in the MotoGP Rookie of the Year race.

The former Moto2 rivals haven’t had much chance to mix it up on track this season, simply because the Honda can’t keep up with the satellite Yamaha. But in 2015, things should be different, thanks to the complex financial/contract situation involving Gresini Honda, Go & Fun (an energy drink company and Gresini’s main sponsor), and MarcVDS, Redding’s former Moto2 team.

After Gresini Honda announced it would be Gresini Aprilia in 2015, yesterday it leaked out that Redding would be riding for MarcVDS in the premier class on his sought after RC213V now vacated by Alvaro Bautista.

It’s a happy ending for Redding, who hung tough in spite of other offers, hoping that his dream bike would be there for him in the end.

He will ride the wheels of the thing next season, and he’s likely to see much more of Pol Espargaro as they both sniff around potential podium finishes.

Photograph: ©2014 by Scott Jones / PHOTO.GP – All Rights Reserved

Camera Info: Nikon D4 with Nikon 500mm f/4.0

[mgallery keyword=”Scott Redding”]