Overnight the announcement has been made concerning Kawasaki’s plans for the WSS in 2012. It seems that they have lured two-times World Supersport champion, Kenan Sofoglu, away from Moto2 back to the production-based series to lead their assault. He will be partnered by South African, Sheridan Morias. Given Kawasaki’s excellent showing in the championship this year, this will be a very strong team. Also overnight, this year’s WSS Champion, Chaz Davies, was made the Welsh sports star of the year. Well deserved, too.
WSS is also the scene of something I thought I’d never see happen. After saying all year that he wouldn’t race for anybody else except Suzuki, news has emerged overnight that Francis Batta is about to announce that he will be running Luca Scassa in the WSS next year ON AN MV!!
In other news, long-time talent scout and media person, Carlo Pernat was announced as the new sporting director for the PRAMAC Ducati team, looking out for the fortunes of Hector Barbera.
Overnight also the FIM announced a slightly revised timetable for MotoGp next year which sees the Phillip Island round becoming the 2nd last round of the year.
8 April Qatar* Losail
29 April Spain Jerez
6 May Portugal (STC) Estoril
20 May France Le Mans
3 June Catalunya Catalunya
17 June Great Britain Silverstone
30 June Netherlands** Assen
8 July Germany (STC) Sachsenring
15 July Italy Mugello
29 July United States*** Laguna Seca
19 August Indianapolis Indianapolis
26 August Czech Republic Brno
16 September San Marino Misano
30 September Aragon Motorland
14 October Japan Motegi
21 October Malaysia Sepang
28 October Australia Phillip Island
11 November Valencia Ricardo Tormo
* Evening Race
** Saturday Race
*** Only MotoGP class
STC (Subject to the contract)
Alvaro Bautista has undergone surgery to remove some screws that were insierted in his leg to repair his broken femur earlier in 2011. As such, Bautista joins Stefan Bradl, Randy de Puniet and Yonny Hernandez, as others who are going under the knife in order to prepare for 2012.
I’m doing a small update of the Shadowfax Restoration site also tonight as more parts have come back from third party repairers and the project has again started to move forwards.