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

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 thoughts on Casey Stoner's decision t💞o 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 Catal﷽unya 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 gives an inch. It is unfortunate to see the reigning wꦓorld 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 the sport i♓n the future, and just hope he is remembered for his talent and achievements on the track.

2. Q:
What does Sඣtoner's exit mean for the 2013 rider market?

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

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

Until👍 Lorenzo 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 hജave his decision out in the open.

3. Q:
How do you think Jorge Lorenzo will play🎐 thing💫s - sign early or wait as late as possible?

Phil Baker:
Jorge will not be in a♑ny hurry. He is the class act at the moment and his performances in France and Catalunya ಌhave just proven that. I know both his management team and that of Yamaha and both sides are totally professional.

I do n෴ot think anyone, on either side, is in a rush to make a deal soon and would be surprised if any announcement were made prior to Laguna Seca. Until that is done, all the other rumours mean very little.

4. Q:
What should Lorenzo's priorities be from a c♈ontractual 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 becau🅰se long term commitment to tea𒁃ms by star quality riders is good for the sport.

5. Q:
Do you think Dani Pedro൲sa's contrꦅact renewal will now be a formality?

Phil Baker:
No. Noth♍ing 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 may 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 ltxcn.top🔜 poll to take Stoner's Repsol Honda rid🏅e. 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 for the step up to factory team a🦄nd 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/Espargaro incident in Moto2, and the penalties and𒁃 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 th🅠e 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 needed.

Take a look at Simoncelli on Pedrosa at F🦩rance last year which gave him a ride through penalty and c♈ost him a podium. It was certainly worse than that incident in my book, and should have carried a similar penalty to it. As it is, Marquez gets 16 points and Espargaro scores zero.

8. Q:
The Repsol Hon൩da riders seem unhappy with the change to the new spec Bridgestone front tyre from Silverstone. How does Stefan get on with it?

Phil Baker:
Stefan is learning every time he is out on the bike and 𓆉not 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 Vꦛalentino Rossi's second place in the wet at Le Ma👍ns?

Phil Baker:
The signi🌳ficance 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 him𓆏 to be running near the front. He has built up an incredible fan base who are tuning in to see their hero be competitive.

The 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 𝓀the podium once more.

10. Q:
Wha𝔍t did you make of Andrea D🌠ovizioso taking Tech 3's first podium?

Phil Baker:
A brilliant ride and o🥀ne 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 put his name firmly up for promotion to the factory team.

But that sa❀id, 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 honey badger" won't give up without a massive fight. The bottom line is that Tech 3 will benefit from this competition.

11. Q:
The Tech 3 riders apparently paying for the own brake upgrade has caused plenty of discussion. What's your꧙ view on it?

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

If a rider has bဣudget for upgraded parts that the team cannot afford, then I presume it is a dec🌺ision between the rider, team and suppliers whether they receive such parts.

My only additional comment is that it shows the difference between w🐼hat the factory bikes 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 b😼ased info have to general motorcycle development? It should be b༒anned. Only gyros/accelerometers should be allowed?

Phil Baker:
It's a good 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 t🌃he 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 Moto🌳GP/2/3 bikes have starter motors? It is an excellent improvement in WSBK (more bikes raci𝔍ng after crashes). Even MX bikes have starter motors...

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

The argument for this is that if you come off, should you be allowed to restart or i😼s that the end of your race?

The other🅘 issue is about the weight benefit versus the restarting opportunities. There is also a safety risk from restarting a potentially damaged ﷺbike.

Again, it's six of one and half a dozen of the other and I know that the paddock i💯s pretty much split on such a decision.