Aprilia has officially confirmed that it has abandoned its Moto2 project.
A statement by the Piaggio Group – owners of Aprilia – confirmed that the famous Italian constructor will not have a factory presence in the new Moto2 class, which replaces the 250cc World Championship from next season, or provide machinery for private teams to race with.
The main reason given for the withdraw is the required use of a Honda-built engine, but since that single-engine rule was announced on May 5 it remains a mystery as to why Aprilia has waited so long – its Moto2 chassis is said to be ‘almost finished’ – before reversing its decision to compete.
“[It would be] useless and harmful to the image of a large Italian and European motorcycle manufacturer, which has won 43 world titles in road racing and off road competition, to take part in a competition which relies on engine technology by a rival constructor,” said the statement.
The Aprilia withdraw leaves several leading teams, including Mapfre Aspar and Speedup Aprilia, to either find a new Moto2 chassis manufacturer or try to acquire what has so far been achieved by the Aprilia design team and continue the project themselves.
Aspar, who had made clear it is very late for Aprilia to have such a change of heart, had hoped to give his riders Julian Simon and Mike di Meglio their debut on the Aprilia chassis at the forthcoming Valencia Moto2 test, from December 9-10.
It is thought that Aprilia will now channel its planned Moto2 resources into an expansion of its WSBK presence, from one to two teams, and perhaps even begin planning for a future MotoGP return, should rumoured rule changes allow production-based engines.
The only 2010 grand prix class to feature the Piaggio brands – Aprilia, Gilera and Derbi – will now be 125cc.
Poor timing from Piaggio. Very disappointing and even somewhat unprofessional I have to say.
Now there are several teams left without a chassis, some of which had been planning to test in just a couple weeks time. And Aprilia couldn’t decide that any earlier?
I hope this is the only unpleasant surprise for the Moto2 class, because the last thing we need is more manufacturers and suppliers pulling out at the last minute, leaving teams no place to go and making a mess out of the 2010 preseason.
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The problem for Apilia is…..Why would you want to be involved in a championship that uses Handa engines…When you are Aprilia !
They should not have put their hat in he ring in the first place…so yes thats
unprofessional. Although I think the class is a good idea…I don’t think using a single engine is right…It has the potential to turn other manufactures away from the sport. After all this is the WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS.