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/697689
ROAD RACE FIM MOTOGP WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP ROUND 8 / JUNE 26, 2016 TT CIRCUIT ASSEN / ASSEN, THE NETHERLANDS P60 While the smaller classes remain in limbo, yet another MotoGP contract was settled in the days leading up to the Dutch TT, with Alex Rins arriving with news that he will be joining Andrea Iannone at Suzuki for the next two years, completing an all-new rider lineup for the returned Japanese factory team. This con- firmed speculation and closed off long-standing expectations that the 20-year-old Spaniard was destined for a future with Yamaha, via the sat- ellite Tech 3 squad. He had chosen Suzuki, he explained, after check- ing in with fellow-Spaniard Maverick Vinales, who has spent the last two years with Suzuki. The Yamaha- bound Vinales recommended the team as being "like a family" and talked up the promise of the still- developing GSX-RR. The Rins deal is at the expense of the hopes of at least two other rid- ers, with a knock-on effect denting the prospects of two more. The first to be disappointed was Aleix Espargaro. After putting two years into developing the Suzuki he has been complaining for the last two races that he expected the team to value him more highly. He is expected, however, to join Aprilia next year. The second is Moto2 Champion Johann Zarco who tested the GSX-RR in Japan in the break, upon whom the GP team had an option, and who was scheduled to race for the factory in the Suzuka 8 Hours. The test went ahead, but the Frenchman backed out of the 8 Hours commitment because of the loss of his MotoGP chances. He is now expected to join Yamaha's Tech 3 squad, alongside fellow class rookie Jonas Folger, who had already inked his deal. The musical chairs appear also to have dashed the hopes of current Aprilia teamsters Alvaro Bautista and Stefan Bradl. Sam Lowes is already contracted to join the Mo- toGP team next year, and Espargaro will take the other seat. Former 125 champion Bautista was clinging to hopes that Aprilia might field a third bike, and was also in discussion to replace Yonny Hernandez at Avintia Ducati. Former Moto2 champion Bradl was less sanguine, and admit- ted he was contemplating a return to Moto2. With factory rides accounted for and the satellite Yamaha team likely to be settled with Folger and Zarco, anoth- er independent ride was accounted for at Assen when Cal Crutchlow confirmed that he will stay with the LCR Honda team. It will be his third year with the Honda team, and he confirmed that they were discussing a possible fourth in 2018. Rumors that Lucio Cecchinello may aban- don his long allegiance to Honda next year, switching to Suzuki, took a further step backwards. Even if Suzuki will be able to supply an independent team, the English rider expected to remain with Honda. On a weekend with a break in a tradition dating back to before the birth of the World Championship, it was confirmed that the only circuit on the calendar since then, Assen, will continue for at least another 10 years, until 2026. This was the first year that Assen came into line with the rest of the series, with racing taking place on Sunday rather than the traditional and unique Saturday. Agreement of a fresh contract with Assen was announced on Saturday, along with confirmation of fresh investment in the traditional venue, with more covered grandstands and improved safety part of 16-million- euro plans. The first Dutch TT was run in 1925, on public roads in the Drenthe district. This year's change to a Sunday race was similarly part of a modernization program, also ensuring bigger crowds with a full weekend event. Assen also saw the completion of another important, though not unexpected contract, as Dorna and teams' association IRTA confirmed renewal of their contract for the next five years. This will last from 2017 until the end of 2021, and will take their co-operation up to 30 years. As previously reported, the new deal includes a major revision of the dis- tribution of funds, with financial sup- port to independent teams boosted to 2-million euros per entry over and above existing freight allowances, prize money etc., and cost of lease bikes capped to a maximum 2.2-mil- lion euros, including running spares but not crash damage. Contract reshuffles saw the return of Australian Remy Gardner to Moto2, and Briton Danny Webb to Moto3—both taking the places of riders who have not come up to scratch. Gardner, son of 1987 500 champion Wayne Gardner, was again replacing Alessandro Tonucci in the Tasca Racing Moto2 team. Still on a race-by-race basis, Gard- ner rode for the team at the previous Briefly...