Cycle News is a weekly magazine that covers all aspects of motorcycling including Supercross, Motocross and MotoGP as well as new motorcycles
Issue link: https://magazine.cyclenews.com/i/574129
IN THE WIND P30 SUTER'S NEW 500 READY FOR UNVEILING E skil Suter will take the wraps off his latest 500cc two-stroke creation in Zurich on Sep- tember 29. The new machine, dubbed the 'Legends 500', is a product of the World GP Legends franchise that started with a race at Jerez for greats like Freddie Spencer, Wayne Gardner and Kevin Schwantz earlier this year. It features a 500cc V4 two-stroke engine in one of Suter's bespoke chassis. The new bike is designed to compliment the World GP Legends grid as a proper racing two-stroke machine similar to the ones used in the golden age of 500cc Grand Prix racing of the 1980s and 90s. Those original machines are becoming ever more valuable and scarce, not to mention ex- tremely expensive to run and maintain with their extensive use of magnesium in crucial areas like the crankcase, a material that over time can be- come brittle and weak. The Legends 500 is likely to find favor with col- lectors and gentlemen racers alike, and Suter is claiming running one of his bikes will cost a frac- tion of the real deal. Next year is shaping up to be a big one for the World GP Legends franchise, with events planned for Spain, Jerez, Britain and possibly here in the U.S. Rennie Scaysbrook Want a real 500 just like your heroes? Eskil Suter's got the bike for you. TELIAS IN, CORTI OUT AT FORWARD YAMAHA I t has been confirmed that former Moto2 World Champion Toni Elias will replace Claudio Corti for the rest of the MotoGP season at Forward Yamaha. Corti has struggled for form with a best result of 18th at Silverstone as the replacement for the de- parted Stefan Bradl. Bradl left the team after owner Giovanni Cuzari's much publicized Swiss arrest on a number of charges relating to tax fraud and the subsequent doubt if the team would continue. Despite this situation Forward is planning on completing the season, although it is yet to confirm if it will attend the flyaway races in Malaysia, Japan and Australia. Elias has spent much of 2015 on the sidelines after his planned ride with JR Racing in the World Superbike Championship failed to materialize, although he replaced the injured Karel Abraham in the AB Motoracing team at the Indy MotoGP. "I can't be happier to be back racing in MotoGP," Elias said. "This year I was already on track at Indianapolis, but only for one race. With Forward I get the chance to finish the season. I wish to thank Giovanni [Cuzari] and the whole team for this great opportunity." CN PHOTOGRAPHY BY GOLD & GOOSE Toni Elias gets another crack at MotoGP as teammate to Loris Baz at Forward Yamaha.