You can tell it’s new year, the motorcycle journalists are back at work, sniffing out the stories. Here are some of them, in no particular order.
The IODA team who will be running a bike in the CRT section of MotoGp this year are close to confirming their technical package. In spite of everyone being told that their weapon of choice would be a Suter/BMW, it now seems that they will be running an Aprilia engine in their own proprietary chassis. This makes sense as their team principal is a former employee of Piaggio and worked with Aprilia, Derbi and Piaggio as well as Aprilia in WSBK.
The big news of the Christmas/New Year break was the announcement that Yamaha would be concluding their sponsorship arrangement with the Malaysian giant, Petronas. After losing FIAT and running the bikes self-branded in 2011, this was a big blow. It seems now that Yamaha have picked up at least a partial replacement with the announcement that they have signed a deal with ENEOS, a Japanese lubrication company. Quite where this will leave them in terms of Yamaha’s use of their own, proprietary, oils is anyone’s guess. Maybe they will use Yamalube in ENEOS bottles? And I wonder if the bikes will be orange this year, as ENEOS’s corporate colour is a particularly startling shade of orange. ENEOS are no stranger to motorsports having been associated with the sports car races at Le Mans and also the former Honda Formula One team.
Further worrying signs of the GFC have emerged overnight with the Parkalgar Honda Team announcing that it will be withdrawing from the 2012 WSS Championship. The super team for whom the late Craig Jones rode, is just another casualty of a European economy that is barely keeping its head above water. Despite the constant bleating about costs it seems paradoxical that the most expensive form of motorcycle racing, MotoGp, is expanding (sort of) whereas the supposedly less expensive one (WSBK and WSS) is shrinking.
Still on WSS, news overnight that Moto2 competitor, Mr Crash himself, Jules Cluzel, will be leaving Moto2 and heading up the brand new WTR Ten 10 WSS team. Ten 10’s second rider has not yet been announced but the team, backed by Indian money, has hinted at a WSBK entry in 2014.
And, finally, back to MotoGp. The Gresini Team has confirmed a technical arrangement with Ten Kate Honda to supply engines and expertise for their new CRT effort in 2012. Well done, Fausto for snaring the best engine deal in the paddock.