Team Pons quits MotoGP

Team Pons will not be competing in the 2006 Championship: the difficulties of setting up a budget without Camel got the better of the motivation of the Spaniard, present in Grand Prix for 25 consecutive years. A Honda RCV therefore remains available…

For the first time in 25 years, the Sito Pons Team will not compete in the 2006 MotoGP World Championship: "the decision to withdraw this year was very difficult to take", regrets the former 250 cc world champion,"but our determination and our competitive spirit remain unchanged".

And yet, the victories of Biaggi in 2004 and that of Alex Barros at the last GP of Portugal seem today very distant (read). Camel, who sponsored Team Pons for three years, finally abandoned not only Team Pons but also Max Biaggi after having nevertheless sought to impose it at all costs … The tobacco company claims today to remain in MotoGP, but without specifying with which structure.

Far from admitting defeat, Sito Pons ensures that he is already working on his 2007 project in order to participate in a highly anticipated season, which will see the arrival of the 800 cc in the premier category..

At the same time, the Spaniard will retain his role as president of the IRTA (International Road Racing Teams Association). A particularly important position this year, since it will be a question of renewing the agreement between the IRTA and the Dorna (the organizer of the championship). An excellent opportunity to address the viability problems of MotoGP teams, recently described here by Herve Poncharal (read) !

The announcement of Pons’ withdrawal was not without consequences for the 2006 season: Carlos Checa, who had participated in the first winter tests with Sito, found himself an orphan. On the other hand, Casey Stoner is guaranteed to participate in the 2006 season since one of the two RCV of Pons will henceforth be attributed to the LCR team of Lucio Cecchinello. But the eventuality for the LCR to engage two motorcycles remains unlikely as the costs are high. A RRS therefore remains potentially usable … provided that the adequate budget is found. !

Carlos Checa may also have to focus on the World Superbike, a destination very popular with MotoGP riders! After Troy Bayliss – who did not take long to spark up again (read) – at Ducati Xerox, Roberto Rolfo signed with Ducati Caracchi.

Ruben Xaus is expected in the private Ducati Sterilgarda Berik team while Alex Barros recently told the Brazilian Lance that his goal was now to "become Superbike world champion"… As for Max Biaggi, he would be in contact with the Suzuki Alstare team…

With winter testing scheduled to resume on January 23 in MotoGP and the first round of Superbike taking place on February 25, the status of each should clear up very soon. Stay connected !

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