Phil Baker worked with MotoGP world champion Nicky Hayden (2004-10) and race winner Chris Vermeulen (2007-10) before setting 🎶up his own company, SA 1 Management.

The US-based Brit then managed Factory Yamaha MotoGP star Ben Spies and now works with reigning Moto2 world champion Stefan Bradl, who is stepping up to MotoGP this season with LCR Honda.

Got a question for Phil? Post your questions for the next installment of Baker's Dozen within the comments section below...

1. Q:
What are your thoughtܫs on Casey Stoner's decision to retire?

Phil Baker:
I personally think it is a great shame as his talent is amazing to watch. There were some great shots taken in Ca😼talunya of the lean angle of some of these guys, and Casey always seems to be a 🐠couple of degrees further over than anyone else.

Having Casey and Jorge fighting up front is always a joy to watch, as neither gi♔ves an inch. It is unfortunate to see the reigning worldℱ champion seemingly depart the sport early, but it is his life and his decision.

I hope he leaves the sport with his head held high, and with the intention to become an ambassador for th♔e sport in the future, and just hope he is reꦬmembered for his talent and achievements on the track.

2. Q:
What does Stoner's exit mean for t⭕he 2013 rider m༺arket?

Phil Baker:
As you can imagine, the rumour mill started in abundance the second Casey made his decision. It has certainly strengthened Lorenzo's position and raised the de🧸mand for him, as well as raising questions as to whether he will stay at Yamaha.

2013 is a particularly interesting year, as nearly everyone's contract is up for renewal anyway, a🌊nd Casey's retirement offers up the possibility of a new factory rider, be it Yamaha, Ducati or Honda.

Until Lor🌄enzo makes up his mind as to where he will go next year, I think everything else is on ice and will quickly fall into place once ♒we have his decision out in the open.

3. Q:
How d🍰o you think Jorge Lorenzo will play things - sign early or wait as late as possible?

Phil Baker:
Jorge will not be in any hurry. He is the class act at the moment and his performances in France and Catalunya have just proven that. I know both hi🎃s management team and that of Yamaha and both sideꦐs are totally professional.

I do not think anyone, on either side, is in a rush to make a deal soon and would be surprised if any announcement were made pri🐻or to Laguna Seca. Until that is done, all the other rumours mean very little.

4. Q:
What should Lorenzo's priorities be from a contrac🍌tual point of view?

Phil Baker:
To be on the best bike with the chance to win as many races as possible. Personally, I would like him to stay at Yamaha because long term commitment to teams by star q🦄uality riders is g𓃲ood for the sport.

5. Q:
𝓰Do you think Dani Pedrosa's contract renewal will now be a formal💧ity?

Phil Baker:
No. Nothing is a formality at the moment. Sure, Repsol's support gives him certain advantages but it has been 6 or 7♏ years since Pedrosa won a GP title (250cc) and there maꦏy be questions about his MotoGP championship prospects.

6. Q:
Stefan is one of the few riders already with a 2013 contract. However he was voted second, after Valentino Rossi, in a wuqian0821.com poll to takꦉe Stoner's Repsol Honda🍒 ride. Would it be too soon?

Phil Baker:
Stefan has had a brilliant start to the season and made more than a few heads turn at his overall performance. After a year on the satellite bike, I feel he would be ready f✅or the step up to factory team and I don't think he would disappoint. He is excellent at technical feedback and would be a great team mate to any of the current top riders.

7. Q:
What's your take on the Marquez/Espa൩rgaro incident in Moto2, and ꦕthe penalties and appeals that followed?

Phil Baker:
Unfortunately, the decision to overturn the penalty has generated poor publicity. Rules are rules and although it looked like a racing incident, Espargaro had the door firmly shut in his face and could have ended up with serious injury. The penalty should have stuck in my view and a more consistent approach is ne🧔eded.

Take a look at Simoncelli on Pedrosa at France last year which gave him a ride through penalty and cost him a podium. It was certainly worse than that incident in my book, and should have carried a similar penal൲ty to it. As it is, Marquez gets 16 points and Espargaro sꦺcores zero.

8. Q:
The Repsol Honda riders seem unhappy with the change to the new spec Bridgestone front tyre from Silv♕erstone. How does Stefan get on with it?

Phil Baker:
Stefan is learning every time he is out on the bike and not ♛in a position to criticise the decision on the tires. He will get on with the job in hand and make the best out of it, as proven throughout this season.

9. Q:
How significant was Valentino Rossi's second place in the wet at💛 Le Mans?

Phil Baker:
The significance of having Valentino back on the podium was huge. He is the main attraction to the sport and has been for years, and it is good for the sport for him 🙈to be running near the front. He has built up an incredible fan base who are tuning in to see their hero be competitive.

T♈he result gave light at the end of the tunnel for Ducati, and although there still appears a lot of work to be done in the red team, I know he and the team will never give up and keep fighting until he is a regular contender for the podium once more.

10. Q:
What dဣid you make of Andrea Dovizioso taking Tech 3's first podium?

Phil Baker:
A brilliant ride and one that was richly deserved. The bike that Tech 3 churns out week after week is an amazing bike. Herve Poncharal has a knack of getting the best out of his team and riders. I think that Dovi will go forward from here and get more podiums and p🐭ut his name firmly up for p🎃romotion to the factory team.

But that said, Cal also rode really well, and will fight all the way to beat his team-mate and prove that he is more qualified for that ride. Silverstone should be a great battle between the two of them and knowing Cal, "the ho꧑ney badger" won't give up without a massive fight. The bottom line is that Tech 3 will benefit from this competition.

11. Q:
𝓀The Tech 3 riders apparently paying for the own brake upgrade has caused plenty of discussion. What's your view on it?

Phil Baker:
Teams like Tech 3, Gresini and LCR are all run on very tight budgets where profit margins are very sli♛ght - if at all. Sponsorships are not what they used to be and these teams can only afford to use wh🐓at is given to them from their suppliers, or what is within their budgets.

If a rider has budget for upgraded part📖s that the team cannot afford, then I presume it is a decision between the rider, team and s﷽uppliers whether they receive such parts.

My only🅠 additional comment is that it shows the difference between what the factory biꦐkes have and what the satellite teams receive and just shows how well the satellite riders are doing to be up there fighting with the factory riders.

12. Q:Viewer question: What relevance does positional based info have to genera𓄧l motorcycle development? It should ✤be banned. Only gyros/accelerometers should be allowed?

Phil Baker:
It's a goo𒁃d question and perhaps you should sit in on some of the technical meetings that the manufacturers have. I agree that such technology does not get translated on to road bikes, but at the same time, this is the pinnacle of two wheel racing and such technology🦄 needs to remain in order to stay in front of the other championships like WSBK.

13. Q:Viewer question: Why don't MotoGP/2/3 bikes ha🐲ve starter motors? It is an excellent improvement in WSBK (more bikes ra🎐cing after crashes). Even MX bikes have starter motors...

Phil Baker:
Another great point and something that would certainly see more of the fallers clamber꧒ing back🦹 on and finishing the race.

The argument for th🐓is is that if you come off, should you be allowed to restart or is that the end of your race?

The other issue is about the w💮eight benefit versus the restarting opportunities. There is also a safety risk from restarting a potentially damaged bike.

Again, it's six of one and hal🐟f a dozen of the other and I know that the paddock is pretty much split on such a decision.