VDS Racing’s Marc Bartholemy denies BMW and Leon Haslam in team – MotoGP News
Marc VDS Racing team manager Marc Bartholemy has not confirmed the mutual struggle of Suter and BMW for the MotoGP entry and insisted that German automobile manufacturer has no involvement in the project.
Swiss racing corporation, Suter is anticipated to join the MotoGP grid by 2012 season, with a machine consisting of company designed chassis and a power plant provided by BMW’s 1000cc Superbike. The collaboration started the rumour that BMW will power the
Suter racing project in the motorcycle premier class.
The new born prototype of the Suter-BMW racing project made its track debut run during the mid-season break. The bike was tested by Damian Cudlin and Carmelo Morales, as they got some laps at Jerez circuit and finally shed some four seconds off the initial
round.
The prototype is expected to return to the track soon after the bwin Grande Premio de Portugal at Estoril circuit, which is the third round of the MotoGP event calendar. This was also highlighted among the media that BMW’s World Superbike rider Leon Haslam
is affirmed to ride the machine in the premier class entry.
Haslam is from the World Superbike and is looking forward to ride BMW’s MotoGP machine next year, if the German manufacturer is able to construct the bike fast enough to compete with the rivals.
After all the discussions Marc Bartholemy have denied that his project is considering Haslam as their team rider.
"The Suter project is completely independent of BMW, and there has been no contact with Leon Haslam,” Bartholemy said to the press.
Marc VDS team has two riders in their Moto2 squad, Scott Redding and Mika Kallio.
The CEO of BMW Motorcycle Division, Hendrik von Kuenheim shared some views about the plans of the company to get into the MotoGP during his visit to the race in Qatar. There have also been words speculated about the making of a MotoGP bike at the BMW factory
workshop, including the information gathering on the Marc VDS Suter project, based on the S 1000 RR with World Superbike specifications.
Bernhard Gobmeier, the BMW World Superbike boss said that on having the S 1000 RR they were keen to compete in motorsport and their decision was World Superbike.
Gobmeier commented, "We have a long-term contract with Alfa Racing, but the workshop is very large so there would be enough space for something else. It would be necessary to upgrade the engine."
Bernhard also revealed that their decision for giving a pause to MotoGP entry could turn, as there is plenty of space for another project to be placed.
The bwin Grande Premio de Portugal race is scheduled for May 1. The present MotoGP point leader is Jorge Lorenzo, the 2010 world champion, after only two rounds gone of the season.
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