After the John Hopkins saga, the postponement of the official team launch, the last minute hiring of Garry McCoy, FB Corse have finally presented their 3 cylinder bike, livery and all, that will be debuting in MotoGP this year and here’s the first pic of FB Corse’s FB01 that was presented this afternoon in the studios of Virgin Radio in Milan.

More news as we get it, so stay tuned.

Source | virginradio.it

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Pull out your hankerchiefs, because FB Corse has issued another press release, this time stating all their bitterness towards the Hopkins saga, which reads like an Italian melodrama.

Less than two weeks ago FB Corse in a press release complained of how the foreign press was spreading “partially incorrect and conflicting information” and confirming that “ “John just can’t wait to to get to know and test the three cylinder bike, more than any other bike from a smaller championship” has to now acknowledge that Hopkins has decided to stay in the States and race in the AMA.

FB Corse is still also stating that they intend to race the entire 2010 MotoGP season with their three-cylinder motorcycle and talking to motocorse.com said that they are not listed in the recent provisional MotoGP list due to bureaucratic reasons, because Dorna and FIM want to see the results of their test results before deciding if the bike is competitive and entering their name on the list.

FB Corse insists that next month’s Milan launch (February 11th at Virgin Radio Station) will go ahead as planned and that they have chosen a new rider and according to Australian website Motonline and Italy’s Gpone, the new rider will be Garry McCoy, who was recently ousted from his Triumph Supersport World ride in favour of Jason DiSalvo.

Translated FB Corse press release after the jump.

Continue reading: FB Corse talks Hopkins and finds a new rider

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The official and highly awaited official presentation of the FB Corse bike in Milan on January 21st has been postponed until February 11th, because one of the owners of the company, Andrea Ferrari, is out for health reasons.

According to the latest news, John Hopkins has reached a verbal agreement with the Italian team, but has yet to sign a contract, but according to gpone.com the American rider is also in talks with Rockstar-Makita Suzuki, but the AMA team has already confirmed Tommy Hayden and Blake Young to contest the 2010 Superbike season.

“For us there is no problem,” says Ferrari - “after all John has to train. The program is proceeding as planned and before the end of the month the bike will debut at Vallelunga.”

In the meantime the team will present it’s Bimota Moto2 bike that will be ridden by Simone Groztkyj Giorgi.

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FB Corse’s 3 cylinder bike is getting more and more into the news these days, but the Italian company has yet to give the bike it’s first official shakedown (it’s been a little over 3 months since we first saw the bike), either in the MotoGP or the Moto2 versions and hopefully they’ll change the tires from Michelin (check the pics) to Bridgestone and Dunlop before doing the tests.

Andrea Ferrari of FB Corse speaking to gpone has stated that the intent of the team is to take part in the entire 2010 MotoGP season, but will only be in the official tests in Qatar in March and not attend the first MotoGP tests that takes place in Sepang, Malaysia early February, preferring to remain in Italy and then in Spain to have Luca Cadalora give the bike it’s first run.

John Hopkins is still hotly linked to the team, despite his manager denying that the American has signed up, but according to Ferrari, Hopkins will be at the official unveiling in Milan January 21st and then will stay in Trieste for the rest of the month getting to know the team.

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Luca Cadalora, 1986 125cc World Champion and two times 250cc World Champion in 1991 and 1992 will carry out the shakedown test of FB Corse’s new three cylinder bike and it appears that the test will be carried out at the Vallelunga circuit.

Andrea Ferrari (the F in FB Corse) admitted: “Next week John Hopkins is coming to Italy to clear up the the last details, then Luca will debut the bike, the first test will be done by him.”

“Franco Antoniazzi – the project designer together with Forghieri – is in ‘love’ with Luca,” added Ferrari. “I mean how can’t he be? Cadalora together with Eddie Lawson was one of the best development riders between the 80’s and the 90’s.”

Cadalora who will soon turn 47 and retired from racing in 2000, talking to Gpone said: I’ve followed the development of this bike almost since its begining but we haven’t chosen a date for its debut. What am I doing now? I’m restoring an old Mitsubishi Group A.”

Source | gpone

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