Bikesrepublic

motorsports

Zulfahmi Khairuddin completes first WSSP pre-season tests in Spain with Orelac Racing. (more…)

A closer look at the new and updated 2016 Yamaha MotoGP factory team livery scheme. (more…)

The Pata Yamaha YZF-R1 WSBK race machine debuts ahead of the 2016 season’s start. (more…)

A closer look at Jorge Lorenzo’s new Shark helmet for the 2016 season. (more…)

SIC announces new path for national rider Zulfahmi Khairuddin in the 2016 World Supersport Championship (WSSP) with Orelac Racing. (more…)

The Sepang International Circuit (SIC) gears itself up for 2016 despite a challenging year in 2015. (more…)

Sepang International Circuit (SIC) announces temporary closure for upgrades and resurfacing works from February to May 2016. (more…)

KTM will make MotoGP debut this year on August 14 during Austrian GP. (more…)

A closer look into Jorge Lorenzo’s recent change of helmet sponsors from HJC to Shark. (more…)

Reigning MotoGP world champion Jorge Lorenzo officially signs with Shark Helmets brand from 2016 season onwards. (more…)

Famed Swiss-based race bike builder Suter Racing officially announced its withdrawal from the World Moto2 championship via its official Facebook page recently.

In its announcement, the firm confirmed that it would not be applying for a Moto2 constructor’s license for 2016.

For 2016, the firm did announce that all of its efforts would be concentrated on the development of the Mahindra Moto3 machine whilst supplying a range of parts for various outfits and factories in said junior class.

Suter’s withdrawal was a move many had expected after the firm declined to reveal as to how many bikes it would have supplied in the Moto2 class for 2016. This year saw just two bikes line up the Moto2 grid in the Qatar season-opener.

Suter has had several high points in the class starting with its three consecutive constructors’ titles won in 2010, 2011 and 2012, followed by one riders’ title claimed by Marc Mar quez in 2012. Despite this and several strong performances in 2014, the switch to Kalex bikes en masse by most teams was inevitable, leading to Suter’s decline and eventual resignation from the Moto2 class next year.

2016 will see just three constructors remain in Moto2, with the bulk of it comprised of Kalex bikes (26 entries in total) other alongside independent constructors Tech 3 and Speed Up.

suter-racing-logo

Suter’s exit is in part down to its performance, however this is also a strong sign of the strong conservatism reigning within the paddock. It is more or less a clear case of most teams seeing other teams winning and trying to copy their success by acquiring the same, of not similar, equipment.

Another interesting thing to note here is how exactly will organisers and commercial rights holders Dorna intend to resolve the situation since the Moto2 class was conceived with the creation of a diverse environment in mind. A good reminder of that was back in 2010 when the class was held for the first time and saw up to 14 constructors that entered and scored points.

Sources: Suter Racing Facebook via Asphaltandrubber

Retired MotoGP world champion Casey Stoner has left the Honda Racing Corporation (HRC) to re-join the Ducati team as a test-rider and brand ambassador.

The move was officially announced recently and sees the Australian reconnecting with the team that granted him his first MotoGP world champion’s title back in 2007.

Stoner’s move away from HRC test-riding duties was long rumoured in the past few months, but both the Australian and HRC opted to officially announce his departure sometime just last week. In the process, the folks at HRC also stated their thanks and gratitude towards Stoner and his contributions over the last few years as a HRC test-rider.

2-Stoner_Qatar_2007

After retiring from MotoGP in 2012, Stoner continued as a test-rider for HRC, but only rode sporadically since then, spending no more than a couple of days annually astride a Honda GP bike. Sources report that the move was made for two reasons, the first of which being the fact that the Australian kept good ties with the Italian team even after leaving it for HRC and secondly was the timely arrival of Gigi Dall’Igna as the head of Ducati Corse that made a return to Ducati even more attractive.

Presently, Ducati confirmed that Stoner will mainly focus on private tests and not riding in any of the official 2016 pre-season test sessions in Sepang, Phillip Island or Qatar. Whilst the prospect of Stoner returning on-track astride a Ducati GP bike for a wildcard outing appears to be slim, Ducati fans can instead rejoice at the fact he will be reappearing at next year’s World Ducati Week 2016 festivities in Bologna, Italy.

Sources: Asphaltandrubber and Visordown

Archive

Follow us on Facebook

Follow us on YouTube