A Ducati would like to raise the minimum weight for 1000cc

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Ducati team moved to the promoters of the FIM World and the suggestion to raise the current minimum weight of MotoGP prototypes, set at 150 kilograms, for the next season. Their biggest rivals in the championship, Honda and Yamaha, have steadfastly refused.

Ducati Corse is embroiled cast working overtime to perfect the new 1000cc GP12 and aluminum chassis with Valentino Rossi must return to the forefront of sporting success. The post-season test in Valencia, on 8 and 9 November, were not as good as they expected in the laboratory of the factory sport Borgo Panigale. The changes being introduced in the new bike are many, some breakers and others as important as simple as a piece is to move a single millimeter forward or back ...

Based on suggestions from Valentino Rossi, engineers, led by Filippo Preciosi guru, are rebuilding the GP12 starting virtually from scratch again and, apparently, as we have explained, a detail that would greatly help the new bike would win a little weight. According to current regulations in MotoGP, the minimum weight for racing bikes should not drop below 150kg. That is the minimum weight, but not mandatory, if Ducati wants to make a heavier bike has no impediment. The question, therefore, is of drawer: Why do you want to change the rule?

Well, obviously to avoid even more disadvantaged compared to Honda and Yamaha, whose prototypes for 2012 are restricted to those 150 kilos minimum. If Ducati achieves its aim of raising the minimum weight, the two Japanese manufacturers should ballast their prototypes to achieve the new minimum weight that would set the rules.

The request for Ducati, which has not been made at official level, but as a simple suggestion was dismissed immediately by Honda and Yamaha, which is completely opposed, which could make the request to reconsider Ducati. However, if the Italian automaker continues its purpose should present an official request to the FIM, which according to the manufacturers and the global sponsor should decide.

The petition, at first glance, it seems ridiculous and doomed to failure. However, the same thought a few months ago when Valentino asked to liberalize private testing of equipment, a standard that was established to reduce costs and now, curiously, has been carried out. Teams can now make as many private workouts like, is the toll it had to 'pay' the sponsor to have the entire Ducati Grand Prix of Japan. We will, therefore, what happens with this new 'demands' on the minimum weight.

source: motocuatro

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Brake protectors now mandatory in MotoGP

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Every machine racing in all three classes in next year’s MotoGP world championship must be fitted with a brake protector to try and prevent accidents similar to the multi-rider pile-up at the first corner in Catalunya back in 2006.

Loris Capirossi, Randy de Puniet, Dani Pedrosa and Marco Melandri were all involved in a high-speed incident caused when the front brake lever of Sete Gibernau’s factory Ducati jammed on Capirossi’s bike.

Gibernau was pitched violently over the handlebars of his Desmosedici and the chain reaction saw several riders involved.

Spaniard Hector Barbera was also involved in an incident with late Italian Marco Simoncelli during the 2008 Mugello 250GP when his front brake was jammed on while the pair were dicing at full speed on the start/finish straight.

Brake guards have been used by some riders before, including Briton Scott Redding and former Moto2 world champion Toni Elias.

But now a brake guard is a mandatory requirement and a statement from the FIM today said: "Motorcycles must be equipped with brake lever protection, intended to protect the handlebar brake lever(s) from being accidentally activated in case of collision with another machine. Acceptable protection includes the fairing extending sufficiently to cover the brake lever, as viewed from the front.

"Such devices must be strong enough to function effectively and designed so that there is no risk for the rider to be injured or trapped by it, and it must not be considered a dangerous fitting (at the sole discretion of the Technical Director). In case the brake lever protection is attached to any part of the braking system (eg. brake master cylinder), then the brake system manufacturer must officially confirm in writing to the Technical Director that the device does not interfere with the proper brake operation."

source: MCN

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Suzuki Motor Corporation suspends GP racing

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Suzuki Motor Corporation has decided to suspend temporarily its participation in FIM Road Racing Grand Prix MotoGP from 2012.

This suspension is to cope with tough circumstances mainly caused by the prolonged recession in developed countries, a historical depreciation of Japanese Yen and repeated natural disasters.

Having an eye to returning to MotoGP in 2014, Suzuki will now focus on developing a competitive new racing machine for that class.

Suzuki will continue motocross racing activity and support of road racing activities using mass-produced motorcycles, by obtaining FIM homologation and co-operation with the supplier of its development racing kit parts.

Suzuki Motor Corporation press release

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LCR Honda sign Bradl on two-year deal

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The 2011 Moto2 World Champion has been signed up by Lucio Cecchinello’s team to ride in the premier class.

LCR Honda has officially confirmed the signing of 2011 Moto2 World Champion Stefan Bradl on a two-year contract.

The German rider tested with the MotoGP outfit at Valencia immediately after the final round of the 2011 season, and impressed Team Manager Lucio Cecchinello with his display on the RC212V.

Bradl will now make the step up to the premier class in 2012, riding a RC213V for the team, and Cecchinello said of the deal: “Next year will be very important for MotoGP. Starting from next April the Championship will be rich with new technical rules and participants.”

“Together with Honda we have considered several riders, and Stefan was one of our candidates. After the Test in Valencia we were very impressed by his potential and his determination. Stefan is young and fast and he just clinched the Moto2 World Title so we believe we can grow together within the Team in the next two years. He already knew the technical staff and today I am happy to give him our warmest welcome in the LCR Team!”

Bradl commented: “This is simply fantastic, like a dream come true! When I tested the RC212V in Valencia I realised that LCR Team is very professional and well organised so I am sure they will do their best to support me. Making my debut in the premier class aboard the RC213V is great and I cannot wait to get back on track.”

source: motogp official

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FTR to build chassis for new Gresini 1000cc project

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British specialists FTR will design and build the chassis for Fausto Gresini’s new Honda CBR1000RR-powered MotoGP project in 2012.

The Italian team owner has chosen the Buckingham company, who have also built a new chassis for the Spanish-based BQR squad using a Kawasaki ZX-10R motor.

FTR have also been heavily involved in the manufacturing of Ducati’s new conventional twin spin aluminium chassis, which broke cover in Valencia last week when Valentino Rossi tested the new GP12.

Gresini will run one privately developed 1000cc machine (CRT) in 2012 and one prototype RC213V bike leased off Honda for Spanish rider Alvaro Bautista.

Gresini is yet to confirm who will ride the CBR1000RR-FTR machine and he said: “It is a source of great satisfaction that we have reached an agreement with FTR Moto to take part in the new MotoGP series, CRT.  The battle between the Claiming Rule Teams will be an exciting one and we are entering it with great enthusiasm. Our willingness to take part was always based on the condition that we had the right technical partner and with FTR Moto and a Honda CBR1000R engine we believe we can build a competitive bike for this new category. It is a new adventure that appeals to our racing spirit and it could prove to be the future of MotoGP. We will work our hardest and I am sure we will have great results together.”

FTR boss Steve Bones, who originally worked on a project with Gresini that would have used an Aprilia RSV4 engine, said: “We are absolutely delighted to start up a partnership with Team San Carlo Honda Gresini and to join them on a new adventure in MotoGP. Team Gresini have shown over the years that they are technically competent, as their numerous successes prove, and we are sure that will continue alongside FTR on this new adventure. The growing interest in the new MotoGP-CRT category is exciting for all of us and we can't wait to get on track as soon as possible to start developing the bike and breaking new technical boundaries.”

Gresini signed Bautista immediately after the final race in Valencia following the tragic death of popular Italian rider Marco Simoncelli in Sepang last month.

source: MCN

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Casey Stoner confident new Honda will get faster

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Casey Stoner believes Honda’s impressive new RC213V machine has plenty of room for improvement, despite the Aussie and team-mate Dani Pedrosa’s domination of last week’s 1000cc test in Valencia.

Pedrosa topped the two-day test session with Stoner a close second as HRC kicked off the 1000cc era dominating just as it did at the end of the 800cc era.

Only Stoner managed to lap within a half-a-second of Pedrosa and the 2011 world champion is confident the RC213V can become a much more potent package ahead of the start of next season in Qatar on April 15.

The 26-year-old is still looking to dial out a chatter issue that has emerged from the new generation Bridgestone tyres.

Stoner is happy with grip and warm-up performance with the softer construction rubber Bridgestone has developed for 2012, but he has been hindered by a chatter issue since his debut on the RC213V at Jerez back in May.

The Repsol Honda rider told MCN: "I’d like to see a few more things improve with the bike for the next test in Sepang but I think everybody else is going to be in the same boat. Now we need to understand better the 2012 tyres because the feeling is quite a lot different with them. Performance seems quite good but we have a few problems with chatter. We find the front tyre gives us quite a lot of chatter and that is something we are trying to improve and the new bike helped with that slightly but we’d still like to improve it more.

"The first version of the chassis, I preferred the balance of the bike but the second version I tried in Brno reduced the chatter quite a lot, so if we can find something in the middle either with set-up or a different stiffness with the chassis, maybe this is the answer.  Something we had also in the 800s was a lack of feeling and chatter coming from the rear on the way into the corner and it is something we still need to improve with the 1000, but we know we’ve got a couple of directions to try. But number one target right now is less chatter, though we still need some better engine braking improvements and corner entry stability with the rear."

Stoner said he would get more of an indication of the potential of the RC213V when winter testing resumed in Sepang on January 31 and he added: "We’ll see how it goes in hotter conditions. We know from this track (Valencia) in the past not to rely too much on what we find out. Too many times we have left here really happy and gone to another track and it has been a disaster. Sepang is where everything will really start. We got some direction from this test but Sepang is where we’ll start to find out what settings start to work best."

And after winning 10 races in an outstanding 2011 campaign, Stoner also said that his motivation would not be an issue next season as HRC tries to win the inaugural 1000cc series.

He added: "We had such a great season this year and I’ll definitely have motivation for next year. At this point I’m tired and it has been a long season. After we won the championship of course I was still motivated but testing is not my favourite thing to do. I’m already thinking about next season more than the test."

source: MCN

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Aspar: We never stop dreaming or moving forward

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Jorge Martinez looks on Nico Terol's 125cc title victory as being a "completed project that was born 12 years ago with the creation of the Circuit Ricardo Tormo”.

Terol is one of many of the circuit's motorcycling school graduates to find a home with Aspar, but the first to go on to be a world champion. 

Martinez's Aspar team has won four of the last six 125cc championships with Alvaro Bautista (2006), Gabor Talmacsi (2007), Julian Simon (2009) and now Terol, a feat Martinez describes as “amazing” and “a dream come true”. 

But this year's victory is special for the team as it marks the first real success with one of the Valencian riders trained by the 'Cradle of Champions' school. 

Martinez describes the title as “the culmination of a lot of hard work between the Ricardo Tormo Circuit, the Cuna de Campeones, Julián Miralles, the Bankia Aspar Team and so many people who have been fundamental in this success.” 

The Ricardo Tormo circuit runs the school named 'Cuna de Campeones' with Jorge Martinez, for six to seventeen year olds, along with Bankia, who also Sponsor the 125cc Aspar team. According to the Cheste based circuit their aim is “to train and promote future motorcycling champions”. 

Other successful riders to come from the school to the Aspar team include MotoGP rider Héctor Barberá, as well as Sergio Gadea, Héctor Faubel and Adrián Martín. 

Happy with his achievements, Martinez is looking to the future and wants to develop his Moto2 squad and is also excited about his CRT MotoGP project. 

"The nice thing about this team and this project is that we never stop dreaming or moving forward. The objective now is to improve our Moto2 effort and start winning there too. We also want to consolidate a major future project in CRT. The MotoGP World Championship is changing a lot and we want to make sure we're involved in the changes to secure a strong and solid team." 

He is however looking at next year as a learning curve for the new rules and that their MotoGP project will be "Revolutionary, all-in, for the season 2013". 

Martinez also revealed how impressed he is with Terol, who remains part of the team's future as he moves up to Moto2 with them, and the work he has put into building his career. 

“He has a huge future. He is a real fighter and a hard worker with a practically faultless approach. You have to admire the effort he has put in and the progress he has made over the past few years. He is never happy, he is always improving and I am sure that will continue in the future. He has great potential, a strong crew and a fantastic bike - all the ingredients to keep winning. If he continues in the same way he will soon be ready to challenge in Moto2.” 

The team's previous best finish in the Moto2 class was in the championships inaugural year, 2010, when Julian Simon claimed second overall, despite never winning a race. 

It was revealed late last week that joining Nico Terol in the Aspar Moto2 team for 2012 will be former Pramac Ducati MotoGP rider Aleix Espargaro, who finished 12th in this year's championship with the Pons HP 40 team. 

Aspar also used Nico Terol's championship reception to announce that his team's 2012 MotoGP CRT bike will have a Suter chassis. 

It also appears that they will use an Aprilia engine as Alex Hofmann, who is reported to be testing the CRT machine for them this Wednesday in Valencia, is Aprilia's test rider in addition to his commentating work. 

No official announcement has yet been made on who will ride for Mapfre Aspar in MotoGP next season. 

source: crash

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Suzuki poised to officially confirm MotoGP withdrawal

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Suzuki is expected to officially confirm it will withdraw from the MotoGP world championship before the end of this week.

The Japanese factory was set a deadline by Dorna boss Carmelo Ezpeleta to commit to the new 1000cc MotoGP class by last Friday (November 11), as was first reported by MCN.

There was no public confirmation from Suzuki that it would continue by the Dorna imposed deadline and British-based team boss Paul Denning told MCN: "I have spoken to Carmelo and updated him and I was told by Suzuki that they need about a week to make an official announcement.  The longer the situation goes on then clearly it becomes more difficult in every sense, so it certainly isn’t positive that we hadn’t got a fixed position from last Friday."

Suzuki team staff though have been informed of the decision to withdraw at the end of a saga that has done little for Suzuki’s reputation.

Doubts have remained about its future ever since it blamed the dire state of the global economy for its decision to downsize to just one factory GSV-R machine in 2011.

Suzuki’s departure leaves just Honda, Ducati and Yamaha with factory involvement in MotoGP but Dorna boss Ezpeleta told MCN last week that the 2012 grid is still likely to feature 22 bikes.

Honda, Ducati and Yamaha will all enter four bikes while there could be as many as 10 private 1000cc projects (CRT) on the grid, including four bikes powered by Aprilia’s RSV4 engine.

source: MCN

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MotoGP: Stefan Bradl on the Honda team Cecchinello

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After the 2011 season without huge rewards in terms of results, the team Honda LCR is already projected to 2012 although in the recent Valencia test was on track with the 800cc RC212V engine. Pending of endorsement of sponsors and the Honda rider to choose from, Lucio Cecchinello took advantage of the usual official practice to get on track the new Moto2 Bike Champion, Stefan Bradl . The German driver, happy as a child in front of a chocolate factory, he lowered his visor and has worked as a good Teutonic beast getting in two days, the tenth overall time (1:34.142).

A consistently impressive, considering the debut ever in the category: 123 laps completed well at the end of test time round after round in steady improvement. To you the impressions of the centaur Bavarian born in 1989: "First of all thank the Honda LCR team and for this great opportunity. I had so much fun and professional team of Lucio impressed me: we did a great job together with the technicians we 'explored' the potential of this bike. This experience taught me a lot and I'm really grateful to everyone for their support. "

The words of the team manager and owner of the LCR team, Lucio Cecchinello: "With Stefan we have concluded two days of testing very positive. I was impressed by his professionalism and his way of understanding the bike: the technician who gave us feedback was excellent considering it was his first time riding a MotoGP . Now resume consultations with our sponsors and Honda in the coming hours to define our program 2012 ".

source: motoblog

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Alvaro Bautista determined to honour Marco Simoncelli in 2012

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Alvaro Bautista has vowed to give his all to honour the memory of late Italian rider Marco Simoncelli in 2012 after he joined the Gresini Honda squad this week.

Bautista quit Suzuki with the Japanese factory continuing to stall on confirming its 2012 MotoGP plans and he signed a deal with Fausto Gresini’s satellite Honda squad for the inaugural 1000cc premier class series.

The Spaniard will replace Simoncelli, who lost his life in a tragic accident during the early stages of last month’s Malaysian Grand Prix at Sepang.

Bautista made his debut for Gresini Honda earlier this week when he tested Hiroshi Aoyama’s 800cc RC212V machine in Valencia.

He will get his first chance to test Honda’s new RC213V 1000cc bike in Sepang on January 31, and the former 125GP world champion said he will be giving his maximum effort to best honour Simoncelli.

He told MCN: "Sure I couldn’t come to this team without the tragedy that happened to Marco and it is certainly not the best way to do this. I would like to do a good year to be happy with myself and to do a good job for the team. But more than anything I want to do a good job for Marco. I will try my best to stay in the same position he was achieving."

source: MCN

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Gresini confirms Bautista signature for 2012

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Álvaro Bautista and the San Carlo Honda Gresini team have reached an agreement together for the 2012 MotoGP World Championship, in which the Spanish rider will compete on board an RC213V.

Bautista was able to get his first laps on a Honda in on Wednesday morning at the Valencia track, where he rode the RC212V that Hiroshi Aoyama campaigned this season.

“I’m particularly satisfied that Álvaro Bautista will ride a Honda RC213V in the San Carlo Honda Gresini team colours next year,” said team boss Fausto Gresini. “He is a very fast rider and I hold him in high regard for his personality and pleasant nature too.”

Gresini added: “I am sure he will integrate into our group swiftly and that we will enjoy some notable experiences together in the future.”

The news comes shortly after the confirmation on Wednesday by the Rizla Suzuki team that they had parted ways with Bautista.

Rizla Suzuki press release:

Rizla Suzuki regretfully announces the departure from the team of current rider Álvaro Bautista.

Bautista joined Suzuki for the start of the 2010 season, making his racing debut at Qatar. He has been a popular rider with the team as well as establishing himself as a firm favourite with the fans due to his racing spirit and infectious smile. During his two seasons with Suzuki he has recorded top five finishes and put his Rizla Suzuki GSV-R on the front row of the grid. Bautista has been the solo rider in the team in 2011 and has been an asset in the improvements to the bike and the huge potential it is now showing.

Suzuki Motor Corporation, all members of the MotoGP team, title sponsor Rizla and the team’s other sponsors and partners would like to wish Bautista well in his future career and every success and happiness in his personal life, and everyone in the Rizla Suzuki squad would like to thank him for the two years of hard work, loyalty and commitment that he has given the team.

Álvaro Bautista:

“I am very sad to be leaving Suzuki after the two great years that I have had here. It has been a great team to work in and I have learnt a lot of things from everyone in the team. It was a fantastic experience working with an English/Japanese team and we have become like a big family, except we have never had any arguments and no-one falls out with each other! I want to thank everybody personally for the last two years, sometimes it has been difficult, but nobody ever gave up and I felt like I always had their full support and commitment. I don’t feel like I am leaving a team, but a group of friends that I hope I will know for a long time. I want to say a special thank-you to Tom, Paul, Ken san and Sahara san, and wish them and the rest of the team all the best for the future.”

source: motogp official

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Suzuki set Friday deadline to commit to MotoGP in 2012

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Suzuki has until Friday to commit to the 2012 MotoGP world championship, MCN can reveal.

Suzuki team boss Paul Denning and Dorna CEO Carmelo Ezpeleta met in Valencia yesterday (Monday) to discuss the future of the British-based squad.

Ezpeleta said that he would wait until Friday for a final decision, with his ultimatum demanding an assurance from Suzuki that if it does race next season, there is a guarantee that a new GSV-R 1000cc bike is on track for testing or racing by the Brno round. He also wants a commitment from Suzuki to enter with at least two machines from 2013 onwards.

Denning told MCN in Valencia earlier today: "Suzuki has been informed by Dorna that there is a deadline from their point of view. They clearly need to announce their formal plans for the 2012 championship and they need to know about Suzuki’s involvement or not. There is obviously a certain element of support that Dorna provides for the manufacturers and the teams and Carmelo basically needs to know if he needs to allocate that to Suzuki or somebody else. That deadline is the end of this working week, so everything will be clear by then."

Suzuki’s future has been the subject of intense speculation during the second half of the season, with the Japanese factory refusing to clarify whether it will quit or continue with a one or two rider team for the inaugural 1000cc series.

The constant delays in reaching a decision appear to have tested Alvaro Bautista’s patience too much and he is poised to sign a contract with Fausto Gresini’s Honda squad to take the place of late Italian Marco Simoncelli.

Suzuki tested its 800cc machine in Valencia today, the British-based squad giving experienced French rider Randy de Puniet the chance to complete a test on the GSV-R.

Commenting on Bautista, Denning added:  "As we sit here right now, Alvaro is discussing with another team and has an offer from Suzuki to consider subject to Suzuki’s confirmation of participation on Friday."

source: MCN

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Pramac confirm Barberá signing for 2012

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The Spanish rider has put pen to paper on a contract with the MotoGP team for the forthcoming season.

Héctor Barberá is the new Pramac Racing rider for the 2012 MotoGP season. The Spaniard, after two MotoGP seasons in the premier class on a Ducati, will continue to ride the Desmosedici with the Pramac Racing team.

Paolo Campinoti, Pramac Racing Team Principal:

“We are happy to announce that Héctor Barberá will be with us for the 2012 MotoGP season. We are confident that his experience riding a Ducati in the last two years may take him on to achieve an even better season with us. This season, despite a bad injury, he finished as the third best Ducati rider and this bodes well. I would also like to take this opportunity to thank our 2011 riders, Randy de Puniet and Loris Capirossi, for the season they have just completed with us. We wish them a future full of happiness on and off the track.”

Héctor Barberá:

“This will be my third year riding a Ducati and I want to thank the Pramac Racing Team and Paolo Campinoti who have given me this opportunity. In the last two seasons I have not achieved the results I wanted and I hope that now, after the experience I have gained, I can get better results. Both I and Pramac Racing have high aims. I am coming from one of the hardest moments of my career and I want a change. Ducati is working hard, this was a difficult year but I am sure that with the Test on Tuesday and Wednesday and especially with the winter break, where they will have time to work, they will be able to give us a very competitive bike at the beginning of next season.”

Pramac Racing press release

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Suzuki still silent on 2012 MotoGP plans

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Rizla Suzuki team manager Paul Denning says his team will be back on track during post-season testing at Valencia this week, but concedes there is still no word on whether the manufacturer will continue into 2012.

Suzuki's MotoGP future has been the subject of much speculation over the season, with Dorna said to be working hard behind the scenes in an effort to retain the Japanese manufacturer.

Latest speculation on GPOne.com had suggested that Suzuki has signed off a return in 2012 with a bike for its current rider Alvaro Bautista, while there are rumours that John Hopkins could embark on a part-season deal too.

However, though an announcement has been mooted for some weeks, Denning says he is yet to receive confirmation about Suzuki's future plans.

“Rizla Suzuki and Álvaro Bautista didn't achieve the results we could, or should, have done in the latter part of the season, but I hope we've shown a lot of fighting spirit and a huge amount of performance potential. I'd like to thank Álvaro and the whole team for their consistent professionalism and enthusiasm. 

“We'll do some testing here at Valencia with the current bike on Tuesday and hope that we will be able to announce some positive news in the near future.”

source: crash

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'CRTs future for MotoGP', says Gardner

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MotoGP's grid looks set to increase next season thanks in part to the addition of the new Claiming Rule Teams.

Dorna are looking at the production-based CRT bikes as the future of the sport, which is something the 1987 500GP champion, Waybe Gardner agrees upon. Harking back to days when the GP grid was filled with factory entries alongside numerous privateer outfits.

“Dorna have said CRT is the future of the sport and, although I’m not quite sure how it will all play out, I think I have to agree.” said Gardner in his website column. “If it means reducing the power of the manufacturers in the process, so be it. MotoGP needs an idea that will put more affordable bikes on the grid and improve the entertainment value of the package.”

He revealed that one manufacter strongly opposes Dorna on the introduction of the new rules, but realised that MotoGP needs smart marketing to boost grid numbers - especially considering the sorry state of only 10 finishers at Phillip Island, questioning why any potential sponsors could get excited about that.

“In reality, it’s the factories that instigated the move to four-strokes, massively increasing the costs for everybody involved. And it’s the factories that are imposing massive leasing prices on satellite teams, which is a major factor in declining grid numbers. As a result, MotoGP is now unaffordable for just about everyone.”

“The problem is that for many years, it’s been engineers, not marketing people, making all the key decisions. Engineers don’t care if racing is entertaining or not. They don’t care if it’s boring, or if no one tunes in to watch on TV. They just want to develop their technology and win races.”

Gardner also ponders on whether the introduction of CRTs will bring around a return of the GP fields from the 80s, using the example of 1985 when Honda ran one factory NSR500 for Freddie Spencer and Yamaha two YZRs for Eddie Lawson and Raymond Roche – whereas the rest of the grid were made up of competitive privateer machines like the Honda triples and Suzuki RGs.

Carmelo Ezpeleta has envisioned that in years to come, the production-based CRT machines will make up the majority of the grid.

source: visordown

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Suzuki confirms the SBK. And the MotoGP?

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After the announcement of the entrance of the Crescent team in World Superbike , many unknowns remain to be embedded and plugs for maximum speed championships. We know how the team said that the British runner (for just 6 thousandths of a photo finish!) Will enter in WSBK, but one wonders what fate will befall this in mind to Francis Batta of Alstare that in this period is average East to work in 2012.

Other deep mystery about the drivers (Hopkins will yield to the sirens of MotoGP?) And especially the sponsors. It is also conceivable that a decision to go in this direction also affect the future management of the MotoGP premier class. The main sponsor Rizla in the past has been linked to the hulls of the house and could redeploy Hamamatsu, even because so far no announcement was made on the draft of the 1000cc bikes provided by Regulation 2012.

If you continue with the Suzuki 800 again next year, would lose even its flagship Alvaro Bautista piltota closer to the LCR Honda's Lucio Cecchinello.

source: motoblog

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Edwards confirms 2012 CRT set-up

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In Thursday’s press conference at Sepang the American rider ended speculation over what set-up his new Forward Racing team will run in 2012.

Colin Edwards confirmed on Thursday that he will ride a BMW-powered Suter machine for the Forward Racing team when the 2012 season starts next April.

The American announced he would be joining the Forward Racing team at the start of September, committing his vast experience and knowledge to the CRT project. There had been much speculation that Edwards would run a Yamaha engine inside a chassis developed by his current Tech 3 team, but he dispelled any doubt prior to this weekend’s Shell Advance Malaysian Motorcycle Grand Prix.

“At the beginning I just said we’d run a Yamaha engine and a Tech 3 chassis because that was my way of putting some pressure on some guys, and they obviously didn’t care what I thought because they said no!" joked Edwards.

“It will be a BMW/Suter which is what I signed for in the beginning, and I’m happy to be working with those guys,” he continued. “We’ll have to go out there and work and test. It’s probably not going to be competitive in the first race, maybe not in the last race, but we’ll work extremely hard to build it.”

An advocate of the CRT concept, Edwards added: “It’s a new adventure and it’s a lot of work, our sport has a dream and a vision. Everybody wants to see closer, competitive racing in MotoGP like it is in Moto2… Somebody has to start it.”

source: motogp official

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Honda to test RC213V on Monday

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Newly crowned MotoGP champion Casey Stoner has revealed that Honda will be staying on at Sepang to test its 2012 1000cc bike on Monday, immediately after this weekend's Malaysian Grand Prix.

"We're testing the 1000cc bike on Monday after the race, with the Championship now wrapped up, we can concentrate on the development of next year's machine, so I'm also looking forward to that," said Stoner.

The Australian will be seeking his tenth win of the season in this weekend's penultimate round, when Repsol Honda look set to add the Teams' title to the Riders' and Constructors' crowns secured in Australia last Sunday.

"After clinching the title in the last race at Phillip Island we go to Malaysia with a lot less pressure and we can just look forward to the race," said Stoner. "It's disappointing to hear that Jorge [Lorenzo] is unlikely to be there, we had hoped that his recovery from the operation would mean he could race there but we'll miss him there again. 

"After pre-season testing in Sepang we proved to be competitive so we will arrive there positive and look to enjoy the weekend." Eight rider/days of 1000cc testing with MotoGP riders are allowed before the end of the 2011 racing season. Ducati has already used all eight days, while Honda has so far used five days and Yamaha four. Suzuki is still to confirm its 2012 plans.

The 2011 racing season ends at Valencia on November 6, after which an official two-day test will be held. Another Repsol rider, Moto2 title contender Marc Marquez, is expected to confirm his 2012 plans at Sepang this weekend.

source: crash

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Frustration builds as Suzuki stalls on 2012 decision

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Factory Suzuki MotoGP boss Paul Denning has admitted the wait for a final decision on whether the Japanese factory will line-up on the grid in 2012 is building frustration within the British-based squad.

Denning was hoping to get a clear understanding of Suzuki’s future strategy during the recent Japanese Grand Prix at the Twin Ring Motegi with several senior management figures in attendance.

Denning met Suzuki General Manager Yoshiji Terada and Deputy Senior Manager Masahiko Kate, but no final decision was taken by the end of the Motegi weekend.

And he admitted that with no definitive answer, it was frustrating to leave Japan with the future of the squad still shrouded in mystery.

Suzuki cut its involvement in MotoGP in 2011 to just one bike and ever since rumours have persisted that the squad would completely withdraw at the end of the season.

And even if Suzuki does decide to race on, it will start the new 1000cc era in 2012 racing its current 800cc GSV-R machine because of delays in development of the new machine.

Denning told MCN: "The meetings in Japan were positive but at the end of the day there is still no firm decision. There is a sense of frustration but at the same time the fact remains that this is Suzuki’s team and nobody else’s. Agreeing to participate is not enough. We need to be participating with a project that can move forward and keep us in the short term at least at the reasonably competitive level we are at."

source: MCN

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Yamaha not bidding to sign Marc Marquez for 2012

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Yamaha has denied launching an audacious bid to poach Spanish starlet Marc Marquez from under the noses of Japanese rivals Honda.

The reigning 125GP world champion has been linked with a move to MotoGP with Honda in 2012 if he wraps up this year’s Moto2 world championship.

His current Moto2 team boss Emilio Alzamora though hinted at strong Yamaha interest recently when speaking to MCN and he said: “Honda for the future has a big interest in Marc and I don’t know if that is for next season or not. Yamaha also would like to have a future with Marc, so nothing is decided.”

HRC insists it can’t offer Marquez a bike until 2013, though Honda sources confirmed to MCN that a request has been submitted to lease an RC213V next season if he clinches the Moto2 crown If Marquez wanted to move to MotoGP with Yamaha next season he would have had to join Cal Crutchlow in the Monster Yamaha Tech 3 squad. There is a rule in place that rookies can’t immediately join a factory squad, but Yamaha has no places available now that Andrea Dovizioso has penned a one-year deal to join Tech 3.

And Tech 3 boss Herve Poncharal told MCN: "Clearly Yamaha don’t want to produce any more than four bikes and honestly I’ve never spoken to Marquez or his people. If he wins Moto2 this year I think it would be a good move and great for MotoGP. But Marquez is very much linked to Repsol, which is very much linked to Honda and I think their interest is more to enter MotoGP as part of the Honda family."

source: MCN

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