Moto2

Kawasaki's last test with Marco Melandri as a factory team. Now, they could be back for Moto2!

European sources are speculating that Kawasaki could be the provider of engines in the all-new Moto2 class that is set to take over from 250cc Grand Prix racing in the next year or two.

It is believed that Kawasaki will create a prototype 600cc engine especially for the class as the control engine as a way to counter for the manufacturer’s abandonment of MotoGP this year while still having a two year contract with Dorna, and rumours have it that the Hayate Racing Team has tightened Dorna’s relationship with Kawasaki.

While Dorna is believed to be finding much of the Hayate project, sources also indicate that Yamaha is in talks about providing engines for the class, with Tech 3 boss Herve Poncharal also the president of IRTA.

Poncharal has supported the Moto2 concept by earlier stating that he’d like to begin a feeder team for his MotoGP outfit, although if another manufacturer’s engine is used it’s very unlikely that we’ll see factory supported MotoGP teams actually fielding Moto2 teams using their competitor’s engines.

The only real way around this is by having unbranded engines, which is where Kawasaki comes into play because they are already supplying an unbranded MotoGP bike with Hayate. Only time will tell on the final outcome in a confusing time for the supporting acts.

de Angelis copped a warning after Qatar clash with Pedrosa

MotoGP
San Carlo Honda Gresini rider Alex de Angelis has been warned by the FIM following contact with Dani Pedrosa in the Qatar Grand Prix on Monday, although ultimately walking away with a simple slap on the wrist and retaining his solid sixth position in the race.

The pair came together on lap 11 of the race in the battle for sixth position with Queenslander Chris Vermeulen, although while the injured Pedrosa slowly dropped down the order it was de Angelis who made the most of the race and took one of his best MotoGP finishes to date.

It was also great to see Valentino Rossi running a tribute to the victims of the recent earthquakes in Italy, featuring the words Forze Abruzzo on the duck tail of his YZR-M1 during the race weekend.

Australian Superbike
Former Australian Supersport Champion Shannon Johnson will compete on a Procon Motologic Development Team Honda CBR1000RR in the Victorian titles this weekend at Broadford, making his first racing appearance of the year.

But don’t count out the possibility of Johnson and KTM forming a team in the future as reported in an earlier edition of Racing Insider as there’s still a very real chance that the pair will join forces and Johnson will spearhead KTM’s challenge into the Australian Superbike Championship with the RC8R. It’s expected that Johnson will test a race version of the RC8R in the coming months to further evaluate the twin-cylinder’s potential in Australian Superbike trim.

One interesting thing to note with the massive gloss ASBK program is that International Entertainment Group is actually selling profile positions to competitors, with a single page costing $475 and a double page spread costing $900.

While the factory teams and very top privateers were highlighted in Tasmania’s program, the opportunity for privateers to receive coverage as extensive as that has never really been given as an opportunity before.

It will be very interesting to see how many riders actually fork out the money in order to gain that profile position in the program. IEG is definitely thinking outside of the box with the ASBK and it’s somewhat refreshing to see, and those riders who wouldn’t usually get the coverage now have the opportunity to gain that exposure.

World Endurance

Cudlin will make his WEC debut with the big bang R1 this weekend

The World Endurance Championship kicks off at Le Mans with the 24 Hours race this weekend, and the Australian contingent is back yet again with Damian and Alex Cudlin teaming up on the Phase One Yamaha. Multiple times world champion Warwick Nowland will be back also, and with the factory Suzuki team not competing this year the Aussies stand a great chance at capturing the crown.

One rider to keep an eye on and will be familiar to motocross fans is Frenchman Mickael Pichon, who is a double world champion and is making his debut in the historic Le Mans race this weekend. Pichon still competes in France in off-road racing, but is rumoured to be quite handy on the black top too. We’ll let you know how all of these guys go.

Australian Motocross
The second round of the Australian Motocross Nationals gets underway this weekend in Canberra where a new circuit has been constructed specially to accommodate the top riders in the series. Filled with jumps and spectacular for both the riders and fans, many are looking forward to the weekend’s round of racing and MotoOnline.com.au will be there to bring you guys all the action.

One rider who won’t be competing is Daniel McCoy, who will sit out yet another round following a crash that cracked his sternum while testing for Troy Carroll Cool Air Kawasaki. It’s expected that McCoy will be back in action at the third round if all goes to plan.