Cycle News is a weekly magazine that covers all aspects of motorcycling including Supercross, Motocross and MotoGP as well as new motorcycles
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IN THE WIND P38 TEAM U.S. WITHDRAWS FROM FIM JR. MX WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP T eam U.S. won't be compet- ing in the 2016 FIM Jr. Mo- tocross World Championship in Orlyonok, Russia, August 13-14, due to "logistical conflicts," says the AMA. "It takes a great deal of re- sources to fund an international racing effort, and unfortunately, sufficient support was unavail- able to our riders this year," said AMA Motocross Manager Kip Bigelow. "While the Orlyonok venue may be an excellent facil- ity and fully capable of hosting a high-profile event, securing adequate manufacturer and additional sponsor support for the U.S. contingent was unsuc- cessful." This is the second consecu- tive year the United States has been unable to participate in the FIM Jr. Motocross World Cham- pionship. The U.S. did compete in the event the five years prior to 2015, winning the team title four of those years. In addition, former U.S. Jr. Motocross riders have won four individual titles in recent years. They include Eli Tomac, the 2010 125cc champion; Jake Pin- hancos, the 2011 65cc cham- pion; Joey Savatgy, the 2012 125cc champion; and Aiden Tije- ro, the 2013 65cc champion. "We hope to be able to return to the event in 2017," Bigelow said. "It is our goal to recapture the world title. For 2016, we wish the rest of the motocross world good fortune as they com- pete for this high-profile champi- onship." CN ONE STEP CLOSER M otoGP's closed shop took a step from concept to reality at the Sachsenring, with a new "agreement of exclusivity" for the next five years with the existing seven independent teams in the premier class. This was announced by Dorna CEO Carmelo Ezpeleta who con- firmed that there will be no space for new teams, and that any new manufacturer wishing to join will have to make an agreement with one of the existing teams. At the same time, at a press conference attended by the heads of the seven teams along with IRTA officials, he confirmed details of the new financial package aimed at securing their future in the series. "The increase in payments for all three classes for independent teams is almost 100 percent, from 2016 to 2017," he said. For MotoGP teams this would include the lease price of motorcycles, which was to be capped at 2.2 million euros for two bikes for one rider, ex- cluding accident repair costs. Six of the seven teams—Gresi- ni's factory Aprilia squad, Avintia, Pramac and Aspar Ducati, Monster Yamaha and Marc VDS Honda—already field two riders apiece. Lucio Cecchinello, chief of the LCR Honda squad, agreed with Ezpeleta that the extra fund- ing "will give us a better situation" to expand his team to two riders from 2018. This would bring the current total of 23 riders up to 24, "but there will never be more than 24," said Ezpeleta. "The next step," he continued, "is to sign with the manufacturers an agreement to sup- ply bikes. If they agree, then there will be an extra payment to the manufacturers." He quickly pooh- poohed the alarming implication that the notion of cost-capped lease-bikes was still only a notion, however. "This agreement is not already signed, but is on the way to being signed, and in principle has been accepted," he said. Michael Scott The new agreement will help secure the futures of the independent teams like Pull & Bear Ducati, E-G Honda, Pramac Ducati and Avintia Ducati. PHOTOGRAPHY BY GOLD & GOOSE