IN
THE
WIND
P42
YAMAHA GETS A EURO TEST TEAM
Y
amaha is to follow its rivals by introducing a
European-based MotoGP test team next year,
with former Monster Yamaha rider Jonas Folger
penciled in as test rider.
The other Japanese manufacturers already have
teams based full-time in Europe, with Honda employ-
ing former Moto2 Champion Stefan Bradl in 2018 in
this role, and Suzuki having employed former World
Superbike Champion Sylvain Guintoli last year.
Europe-based Ducati have long employed Mi-
chele Pirro as their official tester, as well as Casey
Stoner, while KTM runs a full-time team around
Mika Kallio. Aprilia has a lower-profile test squad
currently concentrating on endurance-testing of
components, but is also anxious to move up to a
faster rider to add a more meaningful chassis and
suspension development role to supplement the
feedback from the racing riders, as project leader
Romano Albesiano explained.
"You need to find a fast rider; we need to make
this step, and we are looking and hope to find a
real MotoGP rider," he said.
Current team rider Scott Redding is earmarked
for the role, although the Englishman would prefer
to continue racing, and is contemplating a return
to the Moto2 class, where he was a strong cham-
pionship challenger in 2013, as well as possibili-
ties in British Superbikes and MotoAmerica.
Michael Scott
Jonas Folger
is set to return
to MotoGP
in a test role
capacity.
STONER DONE
WITH TESTING
I
n more testing news, Ducati confirmed that
Casey Stoner is unlikely to remain in his factory
tester role when the Australian's three-year con-
tract expires at the end of this season.
At the same time, soon-to-retire Dani Pedrosa
confirmed that he was contemplating taking up
a testing role with KTM next year. His long-time
crew chief Mike Leitner is in charge of KTM's on-
track MotoGP effort.
It looks as though Casey
Stoner's days of riding a MotoGP
bike are coming to an end.
