Starting at the top, Shane Byrne has been given the BSB/MotoGP CRT option by team boss Paul Bird but hasn't yet made up his mind. If the reigning champion goes back to the big class, Bird may not run in BSB and Keith Farmer will be looking for something else to ride.

If Byrne decides to stay in the domestic championship, that opens the door for Tommy Hill to go up to CRT and partner Yonny Hernandez, or another one of the Dorna-recommended riders that will ensure Bird gets his subsidy.

Tyco Suzuki have already secured Josh Brookes and dispensed with the services of Alastair Seeley. There will be a lot of hat-eating in our offices if American wunderkind PJ Jacobsen doesn't get the second seat.

SMR is the real sticking point for next year. If we assume that Shaun Muir is back with enough sponsorship for two bikes, he is aiming at one well-established title challenger and one young buck.

He has been in conversation with Sylvain Guintoli but the Frenchman now looks like he will be riding an RSV4 of some sort next year. However, the chirpy northerner is keeping his cards close to his chest.

As we know, WFR Honda have, like Gary Pinchin, left the building with Alex Lowes and James Westmoreland looking for somewhere to sit. Lowes is a shoo-in to replace Jon Kirkham at Samsung Honda and partner Michael Laverty should the Irishman choose to remain. In the last three years, Laverty has changed teams in the off-season but maybe he will be looking for some stability going forward.

Westmoreland won the Riders Cup as the best non-Showdown rider and should be able to get himself a decent seat, maybe alongside Tommy Bridewell at Supersonic if that isn't where Jason O'Halloran has already landed. Mind you, after his consistent, not-crashing season, Bridewell might be a target for Muir's second seat.

There was talk of Mar-Train moving up with Jack Kennedy in a one-bike team for next year and that may still happen if the team can find the cash and the rider doesn't disappear off to World Supersport.

Michael Rutter won't be re-joining MSS Kawasaki, who will more than likely retain Danny Buchan and one other, but has apparently been offered a spot in the Honda TT Legends team alongside Simon Andrews and John McGuinness. Rutter has also had talks with Buildbase BMW.

Mark Smith-Halvorsen's GBmoto team will be back for 2013 but riders haven't yet been named and the same goes for Steve Moore's Moto Rapido Ducati outfit.

There is talk of Phil Jessopp bringing the Riders team back to BSB and parking Martin on a Panigale, while John Hackett may also return next year with his Bologna twin, which makes a nice, round four on the grid.

Primo Bournemouth Kawasaki have wrestled the official Kawasaki team status away from MSS and will return next year with Chris Walker and a second rider who might not necessarily be one who comes with a big cheque in his trousers, but one who is capable of running Walker's pace.

It is likely that Mark Aitchison will remain at Splitlath Redmond Aprilia Racing Team and it is thought the squad is hopeful that Jakub Smrz will also want to sign on for a full year.

PR Kawasaki have nabbed the signature of Karl Harris for 2013 and will install a paying rider next to him. The future of Padgett's Honda isn't sure as it will have been an expensive return to the top class for the Batley firm.

MV Agusta have stated their intent to race next year with the brand new F4 but haven't, as yet, named their riders or manager, although we have an idea who two of those three are…