During this past weekend at Laguna Seca for the Red Bull U.S. Grand Prix some rampant rumors were running around the MotoGP paddock with regards to the current Silly Season. So here's an update of each team and who could theoretically be riding for them in 2011 from what we’ve picked up inside the paddock to date. With a good portion of the grid’s contracts up at the end of this year, the ’11 game of musical chairs should be interesting to watch unfold...

Factory Teams

Marlboro Ducati: 
Valentino Rossi – It’s almost common knowledge now that he has signed with the Italian squad for 2011. In fact, Yamaha has already officially announced they will let him test the bike the day after the final round in Valencia. Rumor is he will also bring Italian sponsor Fiat with him, making it the Marlboro/Fiat Ducati team for next year. The only real question mark seems  to surround his long-time crew chief Jeremy Burgess, who has said he may in fact stay at Yamaha, which comes as a shock to some as he followed Rossi from Honda to Yamaha already. (Position pending)

Nicky Hayden – Very important to the US market, the Kentucky Kid also gets on well with Valentino dating back to his early Honda days, which is something that should weigh in his favor as VR46 will undoubtedly be the golden child at Ducati next season. Not to mention Hayden has become far more familiar with the sometimes-hard-to-ride Ducati this year and is once again challenging for podium spots. (Position pending)

Repsol Honda:
Casey Stoner – The first of the “four aliens” to jump ship, Stoner is leaving Ducati for Honda, a deal which most say has been set in stone for several rounds now. But as of recent it’s official and the Aussie will ride a different shade of red in 2011. Which of the two current factory Honda riders will be left out to dry? Maybe neither, actually. Read on… (Position confirmed) 

Dani Pedrosa – While his contract may be up, it’s well known that Pedrosa will almost certainly remain with the factory Honda squad as the Spaniard has the complete support of Spanish oil giant Repsol, who just so happens to be the title sponsor of the team. Not to mention, when Pedrosa is on his game he’s almost untouchable. (Position pending)

Andrea Dovizioso – Here is where things get complicated. Even if Honda wanted to take Dovi out of the equation for next year they most likely wouldn’t be able to as a clause in his contract states that if he finishes the season high enough up in the points (we believe top-five) then he is guaranteed an automatic renewal. Right now he’s a comfortable third and fishing in the top-five shouldn’t be a problem for the young and very fast Italian. This then brings up another rumor: Some say Dovizioso will be on a separate but still full-factory team sponsored by Red Bull, though we hear negotiations aren’t going well. Word is also that Repsol doesn’t want to spend any more money so Dovizioso may end up on the Gresini squad with a full-factory bike if Red Bull won’t step up. (Position pending)

Rizla Suzuki: 
Alvaro Bautista – The young Spaniard has a two-year deal which will see him back on the Rizla Suzuki 800 for next season no matter what. The big question: Who will his teammate be? (Position confirmed) 

Second Bike – Loris Capirossi’s contract is up at the end of 2010 and it sounds like he will jump ship to the LCR Honda team. Loris is Italian, making the Italian team more viable to in-country sponsors. Plus the elder statesman seems discouraged by the Suzuki’s performance and doubtfully wants to finish his very long and successful career there. This leaves a wide-open spot on the factory Suzuki team for 2011. One name we heard being thrown in the mix is current Suzuki WSB rider Leon Haslam. (Position pending)

Fiat Yamaha: 
Jorge Lorenzo – Viewed by most as the next GP superstar, and well on his way to winning the 2010 MotoGP championship, Yamaha is keen to keep the young Spanish star. Only problem: he and Rossi don’t get along at all, no doubt a big factor in VR’s expected move to Ducati. Looks like Yamaha is placing its bets on the future rather than the present. (Position pending) 

Ben Spies – With Rossi most likely out and Spies riding the wheels off the year-old and under-performing (look at Edwards’ results) Tech 3 machine, the up-and-coming American is touted as a shoe-in for the factory Yamaha squad. Wonder if he gets along with Lorenzo or will the infamous pitbox wall stay up as it is now? (Position pending Rossi’s decision)

Satellite Teams

Aspar Ducati:
Hector Barbera – A loyal Aspar team member for several years, the squad moved up to MotoGP with Barbera from the 250cc GP ranks this year and already have a top-10 to their credit at Sachsenring. As long as the funding keeps flowing in the Spanish team is expected to keep the same rider in place for 2011. (Position pending)

Pramac Ducati:
Both of the young riders are up in the air at this point. Rookie Aleix Espargaro has been out-performing his more experienced teammate Mika Kallio regularly, though nothing has been confirmed for either rider for 2011. Most believe that at minimum Kallio will be out come the final round this year leaving at least one open spot. Who will they bring up? A youngster no doubt. Pramac has publically said they are devoted to giving up-and-coming young riders a chance at MotoGP and it is the path they wish to continue to follow, at least for the near future. (Positions pending)

San Carlo Gresini Honda:
The Gresini team looks a lot like Pramac Ducati at this point, with both riders only in single-year contracts that run out at the end of 2010. Wild hair child Marco Simoncelli struggled early on to adapt to the factory-supported Honda RC212V, but as of recent has made strides in his performance, running in the top-10 on several occasions when he keeps it on two wheels. Most believe he will come back next year, though teammate Marco Melandri is more of an unknown. Melandri struggled with the change to Ohlins suspension this year and went back to his tried-and-true Showa units, which has helped some, though it’s widely known both he and the team have expected more from the previous race winner. Also, rumors of him moving to the BMW World Superbike team for next year have begun to float around. (Positions pending)

Interwetten Honda:
Will they even be around next year? That remains the biggest question for this satellite Honda squad going into 2011. Regular rider Hiroshi Aoyama has been out with injury and didn’t exactly set the world on fire prior to his crash this year, plus none of his replacements have been running even mid-pack. Without TV time will they have the sponsorship money to continue? Let’s hope so as MotoGP needs all the high-level riders and teams it can get right now. (Position pending)

LCR Honda:
Loris Capirossi – Talks between the LCR team and Capirossi seem to be going smoothly judging by the word in the paddock, as having an Italian rider on an Italian team will make obtaining sponsorship money far easier. Not to mention it gives Capirossi one more chance on a competitive bike, which current rider De Puniet has displayed the LCR machine capable of many times this year. Capirossi is also in talks with Pramac Ducati according to one source, though this seems highly unlikely. (Position pending)

Monster Tech 3 Yamaha:
Randy de Puniet – The French team/French rider combination makes complete sense, plus prior to his recent injury De Puniet has been on serious form this year, running well inside the top-10 and even top-five on multiple occasions. No doubt the best season in his MotoGP tenure so far. (Position pending)

Second Bike – This hot spot is still very much up in the air. There are talks that Yamaha wants to keep current rider Colin Edwards around as he is a near genius when it comes to bike development, which Yamaha needs if Rossi leaves, but as the Texan’s career winds down he has publically stated he’s sick of racing for top-10s and wants to win again. He also is rumored to have a factory Ducati World Superbike offer on the table and ready for him to sign, which could provide that winning opportunity. The other option they are thought to currently be looking at very closely is British Yamaha WSB rider Cal Crutchlow. (Position pending)

Cardion AB Ducati:
Karel Abraham – Another factory-supported Ducati could pop up with the Cardion AB team. Current Moto2 rider Abraham would pilot the Duc and his father, who owns the Brno track in Czech and funds the current Cardion AB squad, is said to be the money behind it.