Back in 2010 at the Indianapolis GP, GPTech entered Jason DiSalvo as wild card in Moto2 with a FTR M210, and DiSalvo finished in a highly respectable 9th place, two years later GPTech has obtained another wildcard entry, but this time it will be in MotoGP, with a CRT machine.

Their CRT will have BCL Motorsports aluminum frame and as Vesrah Suzuki/MCJ Motorsports is their technical partner on the project, the GPTech bike will house a Suzuki GSX-R 1000 engine.

The project has been in the works since January, but they’ve kept quiet until they received an okay from Dorna. The newly formed team has yet to announce who will be riding the first MotoGP CRT bike with a Suzuki engine.

“The new CRT rules have allowed us the freedom to develop a complete program that is worthy of being on the Moto GP grid. A big thanks goes out to everyone behind the scenes helping!” said GPtech owner Geoff Maloney. While Mark Junge, owner Vesrah Suzuki/MCJ Motorsports said, “Being able to develop a Suzuki GSXR 1000 engine under the CRT rules of MotoGP is a huge opportunity and I look forward to building a competitive engine package.”

This will be the second MotoGP CRT wild card entry, as Attack Performance has already announced they’ll be entering Steve Rapp on CRT bike with a CNC chassis and Kawasaki ZX-10R engine and they’ll be doing both US races.

Source | roadracingworld.com

With John Hopkin’s unable to race in this weekend’s Donington Park World Superbike round after revealing that the his injuries sustained during last week’s Monza round were more complicated than first thought (a broken bone in his right foot and torn muscles in his left hip), Crescent Suzuki’s choice as his replacement rider fell on Peter Hickman.

25-year old Hickman currently races for MSS Kawasaki in BSB and has scored nine points so far this season, and last year took part in the 8 Hours of Doha with on board a GSX-1000 with team No Limits in the Superstock category.

“I’m so happy that I’ve got a chance to ride with the Fixi Crescent Suzuki team this weekend,” said Hickman. “It’s going to be a steep learning curve, but I’ve got nothing to lose, so I’m really looking forward to it. I know the track, but I don’t know the bike, so I’ll be spending the first practice getting used to the GSX-R and how it behaves around Donington. I’d like to thank everybody in the team for giving me this chance and I really hope that I will not disappoint them.”

“It’s disappointing not to have John on the bike this weekend, but he’s suffering a lot of discomfort from his left hip and he’ll have a scan tomorrow [Friday] to determine the full extent of the damage,” said team manager Jack Valentine. “We’re pleased to be able to give an opportunity to a young British rider - Peter Hickman. I was impressed by Peter in BSB last year when he was running at the sharp end for most of the season. It’s a great opportunity for him and I would like to thank the MSS BSB team for allowing him to ride this weekend.”

Crescent Fixi Suzuki has also changed their official team name and is now called ‘Fixi Crescent Suzuki’ as Fixi has now become their official title sponsor for the rest of the season as the team will reveal a new livery reflecting this change.

“Everybody knows that the commercial situation worldwide is tough and that sports sponsorships are increasingly difficult to secure, so we are both proud and delighted that Fixi has decided to extend the 2012 partnership to title sponsor, we intend to re-pay Fixi’s trust in full,” said team principal Paul Denning. “Despite a tough start to the season we very much hope that this change of livery - with more prominent Fixi branding from Donington Park onwards - coincides with the team fighting for the podium.”

Hopkins is expected to be fit enough to ride in his home round at Salt Lake City on May 26-28th.

John Hopkins is another rider will be missing this weekend’s World Superbike round at Donington Park. The Crescent Fixi Suzuki rider suffered a high speed crash at Monza when he hit one of the wet patches at the Parabolica (the same turn where Mark Aitchinson, Marco Melandri and Sergio Gadea crashed) during race one sustaining a broken bone in his right foot and torn muscles in his left hip.

‘Hopper’ was expected to be at Donington, but a further scan revealed that his hip injury is much worse than first thought, therefore he is unfit to ride. According to one of his recent tweets, he’ll be undergoing an MRI on Friday morning. This is his second injury in 2012 after missing the season opener at Phillip Island due to a broken hand picked up in pre-season testing in Australia and there he was replaced by Joshua Brookes - who is currently second in the BSB.

Crescent Fixi Suzuki is expected to announce his replacement tomorrow.

John Hopkins will finally be able to debut in this season’s World Superbike Championship during this weekend’s second round at Imola.

The unlucky Crescent Fixi Suzuki rider who had broke his right hand in a pre-season test at Phillip Island that kept him from competing in the first round - he was replaced by Josh Brookes - has received the all-clear from his hand surgeon and will be able to return to action and join his team mate Leon Camier.

“I am so pleased to get the all-clear and cannot wait to get on the bike again. I had been given strict instructions not to do any riding this week, which has been a bit frustrating, but I have occupied my time well with physiotherapy, training and numerous spells in the hyperbaric chamber. All of this has helped me to recover quickly and I have no doubt that I will be as fit as can be in Imola.” said Hopkins.

“It’s been very busy recently. On Tuesday, I was in the hyperbaric chamber and then drove three hours each way to see my nutrition doctor in Palm Springs. Before that I have really been putting in the hours on my mountain bike and also on the cardio machines in the gym. I am really happy with my hand, how well it has been healing and the range of movement I have got. When I saw the doc on Wednesday, he told me that the bone was fully healed and everything was OK and I could start riding again! I’m hoping to get on my dirt bike before leaving for UK on Saturday, but I have just sold my house and there’s loads of stuff to sort out, but I’ll try and fit in a ride somehow. I am really looking forward to catching up with everybody at Crescent Fixi Suzuki and getting back to to the racetrack. I’ve missed it, but I feel ready and raring to go.”

The ‘Moscow Unlim 500+’ is a drag-racing event organized by Russian website dragtimes.info which attracts plenty of European enthusiasts that want to see what their beloved cars are capable of. The format is the usual one: a quarter of mile straight (402 m) starting form standstill.

However, at the latest edition of the Russian happening there were two pretty interesting special guests: a Suzuki GSX R-1000 Stage 2 and a Suzuki GSX 1300R HayabusaTurbo K3, both of which quite heavily modified in order to obtain the maximum performance for the drag-racing formula and credited with an output of 200 and 270 hp respectively.

The organizers of the event have just released an official video featuring the head-to-head race of these two motorcycle as well as the one with the Gixer ‘thou taking on a 600 hp Nissan GT-R Mk 1. Since it is drag-racing we are talking about, it is definitely not hard to foretell who the first vehicles to cross the finish line were in both races, but still it might be interesting to see what sort of gap there was between winners and runners-up. Then again, just notice how the Hayabusa got at the end of that straight at 306.11 km/h (190.21 mph).

Elena Myers may have finished 5th in race 1 in the Motorcycle-Superstore.com SuperSport during Friday’s series opener at Daytona and 0.760s from winner James Rispoli, but in Saturday’s race two the 18-year old Suzuki Scoop Fans rider came back to take the victory and become the first woman to ever win a professional race at the famed circuit.

Ms Daytona as they are now calling her, only led twice in the spectacular and very tight 10 lap sprint race, but it was on the final lap that went down between four contenders that counted. Myers came out out of the final chicane in lead and went to the finish line uncontested, while Suzuki Celtic Racing rider Corey Alexander and RoadRace Factory Yamaha rider Hayden Gillim (Nicky Hayden’s cousin) went for the final home straight draft with Alexander prevailing by a mere 0.007s, while race 1 winner Rispoli had tire troubles on the final lap and finished fourth.

“It’s been a great weekend overall,” Myers said. “I had a bit of bad luck yesterday with the draft, but I pulled it out today. I can’t say enough about the bike. It was a pretty crazy race and we were going back and forth. I led out of the chicane and somehow I pulled it off.”

This was Myers second victory since her maiden one at Infineon Raceway in 2010 and she said, “I was crying the whole cool-down lap, I was crying and that was ridiculous. I’m such a girl. I can get away with it.”

2012 Motorcycle-Superstore.com SuperSport Daytona Race 2 Results:

1. Elena Myers (Suzuki)
2. Corey Alexander (Suzuki) +0.239
3. Hayden Gillim (Yamaha) +0.248
4. James Rispoli (Suzuki) +6.756
5. Miles Thornton (Yamaha) +10.807
6. Tomas Puerta (Yamaha) +10.892
7. Stefano Mesa (Yamaha) +11.02
8. Ryan Kerr (Kawasaki) +11.023
9. Sebastiao Ferreira (Yamaha) +11.132
10. Zach Herrin (Yamaha) +15.653
11. Travis Ohge (Yamaha) +15.766
12. Jacob Morman (Yamaha) +16.436
13. Manny Manusuthakis (Yamaha) +16.534
14. Charlie Long (Suzuki) +17.929
15. Travis Wyman (Suzuki) +19.559

BSB rider Josh Brookes has confirmed he will be replacing injured John Hopkins in the Crescent Fixi Suzuki team for the opening round of the 2012 Superbike World Championship at Phillip Island from 24-26 February.

Hopkins crashed during yesterday’s private testing at Phillip Island and broke a bone in his right hand and will not be fit enough to compete in the first round of the season and and Paul Denning and Jack Valentine have called on Brookes to sub for the American rider.

Brookes currently rides for Tyco Suzuki and the Australian is logical choice as he’s previously raced in both the World Superbike and Supersport Championships.

“It’s not actually a complete shock that I’ve got the ride,” said Brookes. “Sure, John crashing wasn’t in Crescent’s plans, but based on the fact that I am a Suzuki rider in the UK it all makes sense that I would be the first in line to get the seat, especially because I am familiar with the bike and Pirelli tyres. I’m sure I will do a good job and give the Aussie fans another rider to cheer on,” also adding “I’m currently employed by Suzuki and have done a season racing on the GSXR 1000. I have to say I’m very grateful to Phillip Neil from TAS Suzuki for allowing me to ride. Without their support I couldn’t do it. I don’t put any extra pressure on myself, I’m just going to ride the best I can and make the most of the opportunity.”

Brookes will now be returning to his native Australia where he will take part in the official two day WSBK test on 20-21 February.

Photo Source | joshbrookesfacebook.com

John Hopkins start to the 2012 season will begin with an uphill battle to recover from the broken hand bone he suffered earlier today during World Superbike’s first day of private testing at Phillip Island and as a result, with all probability will have to skip the season’s opening round and try to return for Imola that takes place April 1st.

“This feels so devastating because I was feeling really comfortable on the bike right from the start. I was running the 2011spec bike, with just small mods to the engine and the new Yoshimura exhaust, and hadn’t even got on the full 2012 bike yet. But I felt that the GSX-R had already been improved in the areas it needed to be,” said Hopkins. “The track conditions were not the best and we started the day a bit late because there were some damp patches around from the overnight rain. Having said that, it wasn’t the damp that caused the crash. I was on a used tyre and probably on the last lap before pulling in. I exited turn one and might have been just a little bit too hot for the condition of the tyre going into turn two, when suddenly the rear came round even before I got on the brakes. I was spat off and unfortunately came down on my right hand – yeah, the same one that is missing a bit of finger. The X-rays show that I have fractured a bone in the base of the hand, near what’s left of my fourth finger. I will fly home tomorrow and see my hand surgeon, Doctor Chao, and we’ll decide what has to be done. I would say that my chances of racing at Phillip Island next week are very slim, but the important thing is to get the hand sorted correctly and be completely right before I race. It may be better to miss Phillip Island and then use the six weeks or so before Imola to get back to 100% - we’ll see. I want to say thanks to the Crescent Fixi team for all their efforts and sorry to Suzuki and all the team’s sponsors – we’ll be back and fighting for the podium soon ”

Jack Valentine : “It is a bit more than unfortunate what happened to John today. We had a late start, because of the overnight rain and a bit of sea mist this morning, but everything was going fine. John looked good on the bike. His lap times were right up there with the others and there were no problems with his finger. He was unlucky to highside, but more unlucky to come down on his right hand. We’ll wait to see how he gets on in USA tomorrow and although there is a possibility that he might race, I think we’d all rather that he got his injury sorted out properly and then return when he’s full and ready. The positives are that both riders have already gelled really well with the bike. Hopper looked good right from the start and Leon got comfortable straightway. Leon ended the day really happy with the bike and he’ll carry on the work we’ve got to do and keep improving tomorrow.”

Camier finished 12th and 1.5 seconds off pace on the first day of testing and Crescent Fixi Suzuki has still to decide if they will replace Hopkins for the season opener.

Almost all the World Superbike teams (except for Honda) are currently testing at Phillip Island as the 2012 season kicks off at the end of the month, but Crescent Fixi Suzuki rider John Hopkins who just returned to action after his recent right ring finger amputation crashed earlier in the day and has broken a bone in his right hand.

“Well I’m absolutely devastated to announce that after a high speed crash I’ve broke a bone in my R/ hand! Severity is yet to be determined. Unfortunately I’ll be having to fly home tomorrow to be fully checked out by my “hand surgeon” and then make a plan from there,” tweeted Hopkins.

More news when we get it.

Crescent Suzuki has pulled off the wraps on the livery of the 2012 GSX-R1000s that John Hopkins and Leon Camier will be using in this season’s 2012 World Superbike Championship.

The team also revealed that Foreign Exchange Solutions company Fixi will be their co-title sponsor and the Dorset based team will be racing under the name Crescent Fixi Suzuki.

Paul Denning - Team Principal:
“The team has done a stunning job to prepare the new GSX-Rs for this level of competition; the attention to detail is faultless and I think that this will be the most-advanced GSX-R ever to grace a racetrack! Yoshimura’s hard work and proactive attitude to engine development has also enabled us to be as well prepared for Phillip Island as we can be. John and Leon are ready, the team is very motivated; and we will put everything into competing at the best level we possibly can!

“I would like to thank Richard Wynn and his co-directors at Fixi for their continued and expanded support. I would also like to thank Ronald Kabella and the team at Motorex and all our partners for their commitment to Crescent Fixi Suzuki’s assault on the World Superbike Championship. Finally, thanks to everyone at new team partner Sign Language for completing the graphic-wrapped livery so expertly and quickly.”

Richard Wynn - CEO, Fixi Plc:

“Fixi provides bespoke, state of the art foreign exchange services to the institutional and professional marketplace and we are no strangers to Crescent, having supported them in the British Superbike Championship last year. Having our brand exposed globally is extremely good timing for us - we have offices in London, Chicago and more recently Singapore and, through our innovative technology, we are able to reach out to clients and partnerships in all the leading global financial centres.

When we announced that Elena Rosell would be riding the 2012 Moto2 championship with QMFF, we also mentioned that the Qatari Motorcycle Federation has promoted an all female team during the 2011 Losail round of the QTEL FIM Endurance championship, the 8 Hours of Doha.

Paola Cazzola, Nina Prinz and Nikolett Kovacs raced in the Superstock category with a Suzuki GSX-R run by Qatar Endurance Racing Team (QERT) and finished 6th in their category and a respectable 17th overall, which isn’t bad as Cazzola earlier in the year had to undergo emergency surgery for a very large abdominal tumor.

The FIM has added this video of the three females riders talking about how they got into racing on their website as part of their admirable promotion Women Ride.