Hopes were dashed in Valencia today as FB Corse was denied the opportunity to enter the 2010 MotoGP series with the rest of the field at Qatar on April 11th. The FB Corse team was at the Spanish track the past few days testing their FB01 race bike with Garry McCoy at the helm. Today being the final day of testing, representatives from Dorna and the IRTA were on hand to assess the condition of the FB Corse team and bike, and to make a determination as to whether they would be included in the 2010 series. Despite all of the media hype, Dorna’s Franco Uncini’s determined the team was not ready for MotoGP, but could maybe enter the series midway through if they where then ready.

Talking to GPone, Uncini described FB Corse as “interesting,” but not ready for racing in the ranks of MotoGP. His primary criticism seems to focus around the amount of testing the team has done on the track, which up until this week was effectively zero. ”It’s not a question of reliability,” Uncini explained to GPone, “the bike had no problems at all. But it really needs to put in some track miles. They are still right at the very start of the project.”

Despite this failing mark, Uncini was optimistic about the team’s future saying, “the project looks really good. It may be possible for the bike to join the grid once the MotoGP paddock returns for the European stage of the championship. But they will know when they are ready. When the time comes, we will give them a call and take another look at the bike, and then we could allow them onto the grid.”

For us race fans this seems to be a break in the ongoing saga about FB Corse, which has spanned 6 months and been the subject of much speculation, both about the team making it to the grid, and who would be riding the bike. With FB Corse’s Moto2 team now MIA, and FB Corse’s MotoGP hopes at the very best put on hold, the future seems shaky for this Italian team. But as always, time will tell.

Source: GPone via MotoMatters

This weekend Garry McCoy signed a two-year deal with FB Corse that sees the Australian rider making a return to premiere GP racing. The move comes just days after McCoy was dropped by one of Triumph’s Factory WSS team, BE1 Racing, and FB Corse got the official “peace out” from John Hopkins. With McCoy likely to find only teams in Moto2 looking for riders, the timing for both parties couldn’t have been better. Details after the jump.

According to MCN, McCoy will ride and help develop the 34100 for two years, with the first year primarily focusing on getting the bike and team up to race pace. FB Corse hopes to then be competitive in 2011, but will have re-evaluate itself in 2012 when MotoGP is expected to go into a four-cylinder format only. FB Corse’s 34100 is based of a three-cylinder design that was originally built for BMW by Oral Engineering.

FB Corse is expected to make three wild card apperances in the 2010 season, but the team remains hopeful that they can put together a whole season.

Source: MCN & MotoMatters

We can finally retire the Hoppergate tag (saying this pretty much assures its continued use unfortunately), M4 Suzuki has issued a press release that confirms what Asphalt & Rubber already knew (hat tip to The Sparrow), John Hopkins will be riding in the AMA American Superbike team with Team Hammer. This news comes despite the fact that FB Corse has repeatedly insisted that the American rider was committed to them for the 2010 season, and they now chastise Hopper for backing out of the team at the last minute.

Despite the back and forth that has occurred over Hopper’s future racing plans, American fans will be delighted to see one of the country’s greatest riding talents riding back in the ol’ US of A. Even though the AMA Pro Racing series is a bit of a mess right now, Hopper is looking forward to joining the team that helped him launch his motorcycle racing career. He was quoted as saying:

“I’m really excited to be working with the team and (team owner) John Ulrich again. We had a lot of success when I raced with them at the beginning of my career and I’d like to thank Monster, M4 and all the rest of our sponsors for making it happen. I’m also happy to be back on a Suzuki motorcycle again. I’m feeling healthier than I have in a long time. I think my fitness level is up there with the way it was in 2007 and I’m looking forward to getting out there on the track and enjoying racing again. I have the chance to ride the bike a little bit today at a Fastrack Riders track day at Fontana and I’m really pleased. It is just a shakedown test but the bike feels really comfortable to me. My goals are to learn the bike and the tracks, have a healthy season, perform to the best of my ability, and see where that leaves us in the championship. I’m really happy to have a ride with a great team and be healthy again and I’m looking forward to having a good season.”

Team Hammer is equally excited to have Hopper back on the squad, as he will surely bring a level of talent back to the racing series that is devoid of such names as Mladin, Spies, and DiSalvo. ”I have full confidence in John Hopkins and his abilities,” said Team Hammer owner John Ulrich. “I really enjoyed working with John before, and I’m really looking forward to working with him again. There is no doubt in my mind that he knows how to ride a motorcycle, and now at age 26 he’s got seven years of Grand Prix experience under his belt.

Ulrich, owner of RoadRacing World went on to say that he is “proud to welcome John Hopkins and his family back to the AMA Pro paddock and I am very excited to be fielding John in the AMA Pro Racing National Guard American Superbike Championship. With the combination of Martin Cardenas and John Hopkins on M4 Suzukis, we have an exciting opportunity to make great things happen in 2010.”

 

Source: M4 Suzuki aka Team Hammer

We’re so disgruntled over the persistence of the FB Corse rumors, that we’re not even going to try and put together a quality post on the lastest gossip surrounding the hopeful Italian MotoGP team. Seriously, we don’t care if they make an announcement that Jesus Christ himself is going to come down on a beam of light, and ride the FB Corse 34100 to victory. We’re just not going to cover it today.

There is however some credible talk going on in the MotoGP paddock that Garry McCoy, who recently lost his ride at Triumph WSS effort, will be back in MotoGP with FB Corse. Read a more reputable race site for all the news if you still care. We’re going to call it a day here in the A&R office, and go home and play some smooth jazz guitar. See you all Monday.

This article takes a doubly interesting turn of events. You may remember that a week ago we brought to you the unveiling of the Bimota HB4 Moto2 race bike. The HB4, the first time a Honda motor has been in a Bimota in 25 years, was to be campaigned by FB Corse in the first running of the 250GP replacement series, Moto2, but has mysteriously been left out of the Moto2 Provisional race list.

Equally unnerving was the postponement of the FB Corse MotoGP & Moto2 press launch, which was allegedly due to FB Corse boss, Andrea Ferrari, undergoing hand surgery. The timing of that postponement drew some skeptical attention since it was right in the middle of the Hoppergate saga, which saw American rider John Hopkins teetering back and forth between riding the FB Corse MotoGP machine or taking a seat in the AMA Pro Superbike series.

Now with Hopkins making his intent to ride in the AMA clear, the FB Corse MotoGP bike yet to be unveiled, and the Bimota HB4 absentee from the Provisional Moto2 racing list, there are rumors circulating in the American and Italian racing camps that this entire thing is a charade and done for publicity.

While it remains unclear what is going on with FB Corse, and what their actually racing intent is, the possibility of a Bimota factory backed team entering into Moto2 seems to be catching steam. After all, we do know the Bimota HB4 is a runner. More as we get it.

 

Provisional 2010 Moto2 Rider Entry List:

Our sources are indicating that John Hopkins is close to closing a deal to race in the AMA Pro Racing series for 2010, and will be making an announcement about his contract with M4 Suzuki (Team Hammer) as early as this weekend (but more likely after Hopper’s test on the M4 Suzuki scheduled for next Tuesday the 2nd). This news seems to be the final chapter (we hope) in the ever increasing Hoppergate scandal, and also seems to be the last nail in the coffin for FB Corse’s hopes of having the American ride on their MotoGP team.

In the past week we’ve seen indicators that Hopkins has been readying his move back to US racing soil, as Team Hammer registered Hopper’s #21 race plate with the AMA. While not conclusive evidence of his return (Team Hammer has offered itself as a Plan B to Hopper from the get-go), according to CycleWorld Magazine Hopkins announced to a crowd in Anaheim that he will race an M4 Suzuki GSX-R1000 in AMA Pro American Superbike in 2010.

More news as we get it.

Source: The Sparrow, CycleWorld, & MotoMatters

Hoppergate continues on as it would seem MotoGP upstart, FB Corse, has their kneepucks in a bunch about the press they’ve been recieving lately from “websites on the other side of the ocean.” This would seem to be a poke in the eye to publications like RoadRacing World (and others), who have cast some doubt on John Hopkins’ commitment to FB Corse, as the former MotoGP rider has yet to sign a contract with the Italian team.

John Hopkins has been confirmed to be testing with AMA team M4 Suzuki (Team Hammer) this coming February 2nd & 3rd, and according to FB Corse is doing so with their permission “in order for the Anglo-American to stay bike sharp, and that it in no way compromises his apparent role with FB Corse.”

FB Corse’s statement, which was issued in Italain (translated below), the Italian team says the following on BikeRacing.it:

“Following the circulation of a number of partially incorrect news stories regarding our team, which have appeared in the past 24 hours, and fed by conflicting interpretations of certain articles produced by the media (misinformation primarily issuing from websites on the other side of the ocean), FB Corse has been compelled to clarify the situation concerning its commitment to MotoGP. The primary objective of our team and of the American rider John Hopkins remains the same that it has been over the past few months. In addition to remaining in peak physical condition, the rider wanted to maintain his feeling for two wheels on the racetrack, and to satisfy his natural desire to ride a racing motorcycle in his own country. It is possible for this to take place with our approval, as it is in both our interests.

“The Californian’s management, through Bob Moore, joins with FB Corse in reiterating their regret that they have not been able to test the 34100 on a track yet. The primary goal remains to realize the MotoGP project, through the new adventure of the Italian triple. For his part, John himself has said that he remains extremely anxious to test our motorcycle, rather than a bike from a lesser category. The fact that forces outside our control prevent us from taking part in an immediate test, with a rookie rider in MotoGP, does not mean that he has made arrangements to compete in another category in 2010.

“FB Corse would therefore like to underline that the circumstances discussed in the past few days are part of a normal process, agreed between the parties. Our team continues with its ambitious and difficult work, working towards the presentation in Milan, which we hope will take place in the month of February, after the return of Andrea Ferrari (who needs to undergo a minor operation in the next few days), and whose presence is necessary at the launch. We hope that we will be able to settle the curiosity of all those interested in the project at that event.”

From what we can gather on the issue, RoadRacing and virtually every other major website that follows MotoGP has said nothing concrete about Hopper making a jump into the AMA Pro Racing series. Sources close to Asphalt & Rubber and M4 Suzuki suggest that instead the outrage from FB Corse is another attempt to get their team name in the papers during this off-season. Our sources go on to say that John Ulrich (owner of RoadRacing World) has offered Hopper a ride on his team should he require an alternative course of action with FB Corse.

As before, the whole situation begs the question as to why no material contract has come to fruition between Hopkins and FB Corse…we think the facts speak for themselves in this regard. Hopper in AMA? Hopper in MotoGP? Only time will tell, but you can bet that both teams would love to have the Monster Energy Drink sponsorship that comes with the talented young rider.

Source: BikeRacing.it

Something is up in the John Hopkins camp. First the American GP/WSBK racer was linked with MotoGP upstart FB Corse. A few days after the team announced a deal with Hopper, his manager said nothing was signed, and rumors about his involvement in the AMA began to ramp up.

While FB Corse continues to insist that Hopper will be riding with the Italian team next season, the American seems to be making every indication that he will be returning home with RoadRacing World is reporting that Hopkins will testing a Suzuki GSX-R 1000 with Team Hammer (aka Team M4 Suzuki) at Fontana on Februrary 2nd & 3rd.

Hopkins non-commitment with FB Corse is likely due to the team’s uncertainty of running a full season of GP racing. FB Corse is likely to be a wildcard entry in the 2010 season, showing up only to a select number of GP events.

FB Corse remains hopeful that they will be able to put together a full season in MotoGp, but with the silence surrounding their sponsorship deals, the growing likely conclusion is that no such deals exist.

While Hopper would like nothing more than to get back to GP racing, his prospects of racing competitively with FB Corse are slim to none, and if the team shows up only to a few events, it makes his re-entry back into MotoGP even more lackluster…an issue that is surely plaguing the 26 year old’s mind right now.

This leaves only the AMA as Hopkins refuge, and the rumors continue to grow about where he could land in the AMA Pro Racing series. RoadRacing World’s last discovery of Hopper testing with Team Hammer makes the third AMA team linked to the Anglo-American.

Team Hammer was the first team to give Hopkins his start in professional motorcycle racing, and have expressed their increased interest in retaining Hopper’s services once again.

“We’re excited about having the opportunity to test with a rider the caliber of ’Hopper’ and about the possibility that he might race with us in 2010,” said Crew Chief Keith Perry.

“It’s been several years since the team worked with John and we had a lot of success together the last time. John went on to have success in MotoGP and it’s been nice to see him do well on the World Championship scene. The team is hoping this test at Fontana will lay the groundwork for a successful partnership with Hopkins in anticipation of working together this upcoming season.”

With FB Corse delaying their public unveiling because of suspiciously vague reasons that team principal Andrea Ferrari will be “unavailable because of health reasons,” one can only begin to wonder if the real reason behind the postponement is to solidify their oral agreement with Hopper, or to buy time to find a new rider.

As always, time will tell on this one.

Source: RoadRacing World

FB Corse has pushed back its official unveiling of its MotoGP race bike from January 21st to February 11th and it citing the change in dates because Andrea Ferrari, one of the owners of FB Corse, is reportedly unavailable for health reasons.

The postponement has nothing to do with the fact that FB Corse hasn’t officially singed John Hopkins (Editor’s note: I do believe this is an exercise in sarcasm), who is still reported to be talking to teams in the AMA Pro Racing series, including now Rockstar-Makita Suzuki, as well as Pat Clark Motorsports.

FB Corse is still set to debut its Moto2 race bike, which features a chassis developed by Bimota. Simone Groztkyj Giorgi will pilot the FB Corse Moto2 effort, and will be on-hand for the presentation.

Source: Two Wheels Blog

There seems to be a back and forth going on as to whether John Hopkins will be riding with FB Corse at a limited number of MotoGP events this year. First there was the announcement that was picked up by major reporters and even some racing sponsors which slotted the American with the Italian team.

However when the news reached Bob Moore, Hoppers manager, he flat out denied that Hopkins had signed anything, and that they were still considering offers including a ride in the AMA. Now Italian site MotoBlog.it, which has been well connected to the FB Corse team from day one, is again saying the American will be in the riders seat at the team’s unveiling later this month.

Spanish news site Motociclismo.es, places Hopper as still not signing with team FB Corse, but says the American will be traveling to Italy to watch FB Corse test rider Luca Cadalora test the MotoGP machine.

Both of these sites seem to suggest that Hopper riding on the formerly BMW powered machine as a done deal, but with the deal still waiting to actually be done. We’re not sure what’s holding both parties back from completing an agreement, but geography may be playing a factor.

More on this story as we get it.

Source: MotoBlog.it & Motociclismo.es