MotoGP – Pre-event news: Aoki on standby, Indianapolis, Interlagos, market

MotoGP – Pre-event news: Aoki on standby, Indianapolis, Interlagos, marketMotoGP – Pre-event news: Aoki on standby, Indianapolis, Interlagos, market

New year, usual rumors. Wednesday in Losail saw the traditional jumble of rumors including indiscretions, truthful news and the inevitable hoaxes. We try to report here the most reliable news, including general current affairs and previews on the near future of the MotoGP…

  • John Hopkins passed the medical check-up to take part in the Losail Grand Prix. Hopkins assured everyone of his fitness and that he has fully recovered from the fracture of the second toe of his right foot, although he still feels some pain in his right wrist. Paul Denning, Rizla Suzuki boss, in order not to take risks, summoned tester Nobuatsu Aoki to Losail, on pre-alarm to possibly replace "Hopper" if he doesn't make it to the race. Still speaking of Suzuki, the participation as a wild card in Jerez of Kousuke Akiyoshi, Suzuki test rider, already competing last year in Motegi, has been confirmed
  • Rossi and FIAT, no agreement. Luca Cordero di Montezemolo, the FIAT super-President, made it clear at the Geneva Motor Show that there are no developments on the agreement with Valentino Rossi, and consequently he will not be witnessing the Lingotto any time soon. FIAT will be Yamaha's sole sponsor for the next two years
  • Is Sete Gibernau returning? Maybe. Calm down though, not as a driver, but as a commentator for the Spanish broadcaster TVE, which already has Alex Criville and Angel Nieto under contract. Gibernau could attend the Spanish Grands Prix in Jerez, Barcelona and Valencia, although at the moment there has been no agreement in this sense
  • Still talking about Gibernau, his historic technical chief Juan Martinez (he followed him in the glorious years in Honda-Gresini and last year in Ducati) was hired by Alberto Puig to follow the very young Smith and Rabat to the Repsol Honda 125cc team . Martinez will be technical manager for the whole of 2007, waiting for a... call to MotoGP
  • The FIM safety manager and IRTA member Claude Danis has practically made official the arrival of Indianapolis in the 2008 MotoGP calendar. The work should begin in November, it will be on an internal track (the so-called "infield") not including any banked curve . Also under discussion is a possible "Brazilian" return for the MotoGP: no longer in Rio, but in Sao Paulo, the Carlos Pace Circuit in Interlagos, which has been on the F1 calendar for almost fifteen years. This will be discussed in the coming weeks
  • Alessio Piana

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