Effenbert Liberty has been under the spotlight since their controversial press release following World Superbikes Monza round debacle.

Rumors were already floating around Sunday evening that the team would be cutting back their partecipation at Donington Park by sending only riders and technical staff and not their mega hospitality as some form of protest over how the whole decision making process was handled and that the English round could be their last.

Yesterday we posted the story that Infront had passed the Liberty Racing hot potato to their attorneys adding that the team could show up for the round with no sponsor banners (especially their title sponsor, Effenbert) on their fairings as a further sign of their indignation. Apparently this last rumor could actually be true, as the team has issued another press release, very brief and carefully worded where their sponsor is not even mentioned.

“The Liberty Racing Team would like to communicate that its own riders Sylvain Guintoli, Jakub Smrž and Maxime Berger supported by their technical staff, will take part in the Europe GP, 5th round of the Superbike World Championship, that will be held at Donington Park this weekend.”

An eventual pullout by the four-rider strong team before the end of the season would be a big blow to the championship which Infront could weather out, but they’ll have to go into damage control to protect their image, especially as this could tarnish their silver anniversary.

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If you thought that what happened during Sunday’s World Superbike round at Monza was now more or less laid to rest and everyone involved, Infront, Pirelli, teams, riders just wanted to sweep the whole nightmarish weekend under the rug and move on, but Effenbert Liberty’s team’s controversial ‘j’accuse’ press release has sparked a reaction from Paolo Flammini.

The CEO of Infront Motorsports told the usual Gazzetta dello Sport, that following the Italian/Czech team’s press release he now has attorneys looking it at (probably because the championship’s ‘macho’ image was tarnished) and that he talked with all the other teams and everyone agreed on the decisions that were taken on Sunday (however some did an about face).

He also emphasized that the decision to cancel Race 1 was not from a decision made by the more ‘famous’ riders (Marco Melandri, Max Biaggi, Carlos Checa, Jonathan Rea and Tom Sykes who checked out the track situation also from the safety cars) but it came directly from the Race Direction and was taken due to the rain storm (it also hailed) that hit the circuit in that precise moment, and in those conditions they couldn’t go ahead with the race.

Marco Melandri, who appeared to be one of the ringleaders and wanted to stall the re-start (his BMW was completely binned) has just saw his head roll as Flammini said, “The Race Direction is reviewing the situation. Many of the riders wanted to race and it seems clear that Melandri does not represent the majority of the grid and he will no longer be a part of those riders that are going to be called on when these type of situations arise.”

Apparently Melandri could also pay a high price for voluntarily shutting down his BMW S1000RR and delaying the start of race 2 - there is talk that he could be stripped of his fourth place finish at Monza or be penalized on the starting grid at Donington Park.

And just to add a tidbit of gossip following the rumor that Donington Park could be Effenbert’s last round pending a pullout, the team could be on the grid with no sponsor banners.

Source | omnicorse.it

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Following Effenbert Liberty’s controversial press release regarding the way that today’s World Superbike round at Monza was handled, several disturbing rumors from Italy are now picking up steam.

Apparently team owner Mario Bertuccio had some other choice words for Infront’s management and is now threatening to send to Donington Park (May 13th) only their riders and mechanics and not bring their mega hospitality and that the English round will be their last, while guaranteeing that everyone involved in the Effenbert Liberty teams, from riders to mechanics will be paid.

If the rumors turn out to be true, a pullout by the biggest team in the World Supebike paddock would mean four less bikes on the grid and Infront’s growing and popular championship series getting a big slap in the face.

We hope that the rumors are just that, and in these next few days before the next round, everyone will have time to cool down and solve their issues and put the Italian fiasco behind them and just go racing.

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Effenbert Liberty Racing team has announced that they will not be replacing injured Brett McCormick in next week’s World Superbike round at Monza (May 6th - which clashes with MotoGPs Estoril round).

20-year old McCormick suffered serious, but not threatening multiple fractures to his vertebrae following a crash in race 2 at Assen and will be out of action for at least two to three months, but team owner Mario Bertuccio doesn’t want to find a substitute rider for the Canadian yet, despite receiving numerous offers.

“We are still shocked, and very sad, for what happened to Brett McCormick at Assen,” said the team Owner Mario Bertuccio. “For this reason, in his respect, during the 4th round of the Sbk Championship that will be held at Monza next week, we have decided that nobody else will ride the 4th bike, and we haven’t accepted the offers recently received. The 4th bike belongs to Brett, we have in high esteem him and this is our sign of our great affection for him.”

Effenbert Liberty will be fielding only Sylvain Guintoli (Assen race 1 winner), Jakub Smrz and Maxime Berger at the Temple of Speed.

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Just the other day, Brett McCormick personally informed fans during a phone interview with CBC Radio on his health and of his two fractured cervical vertebrae and one in his lower back, but luckily he didn’t sustain any spinal damage and that he expects to return to complete fitness very soon.

However, his team Effenbert Liberty, in a press release issued today says that McCormick will probably need a recovery and rehabilitation period of two or three months (more or less in August for either the Silverstone, but more likely the Moscow round) and that he will have to wear a collar and a back brace for a few weeks and will be returning to Canada in an air ambulance in order to avoid any unnecessary movements.

Effenbert Liberty press release after the jump.

Continue reading: Brett McCormick to return to racing in 2 or 3 months

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This week’s private testing at Phillip Island wasn’t only for World Superbikes, but it also included Effenbert Liberty’s Superstock team with Federico Sandi and Brett McCormick.

The two riders shared the debuting Ducati 1199 Panigale in Superstock trim under the watchful eyes of Ducati engineers. The Panigale suffered some teething problems on the first day - the engine stopped and started billowing smoke - but testing went well, despite McCormick having come down with an intestinal virus that wiped him out on the first day.

“After four months of inactivity I’m back on track and as you can guess it wasn’t easy getting back to the top, but I am happy about the lap times and the work we carried out. Despite McCormick and I having to share the only bike available, were able to take turns over the two test days,” said Sandi. “Here in Australia it was all new for me, from the Panigale which proved to be very different from the Superbike I rode last year, and the same goes for the type of tires that are very different than what I’m used to. The first impression however was positive, the bike was very fast in direction changing and precise in corner entry and with a very performing engine. I focused most of my attention in finding the right set-up that will allows us to be as fast as our our rivals. ”

Unofficially Sandi’s best lap was 1.37.8 while McCormick set a 1.38.2.

Three teams will be using the 1199 Panigale this season in the FIM Superstock 1000 Cup: Effenbert Liberty Racing, DMC Racing with Kev Coghlan and Alexey Ivanov, Barni Racing Team with Lorenzo Savadori and Eddi La Marra at the helm.

Source | motoblog.it

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Effenbert Liberty has decided to add another rider to their Superstock line-up. Team owner Dr. Mario Bertuccio and Superstock Team Manager Natale Egi have decided on CIV rider Federico Sandi.

If the last name sounds familiar it’s because Sandi is Max Biaggi’s former crew chief Giovanni Sandi’s son, and according to gossip the reason why Sandi left Aprilia in a huff after the Italian manufacturer refused to give his kid an RSV4. Sandi also tested Grillini’s Gapam CRT bike at Valencia.

Sandi spent a season riding in the Italian CIV championship with Althea Ducati Team, where he finished third overall and won a race in Vallelunga. He also has experience from participation in the World SBK Championship in Superstock FIM Cup in 2009 on an Aprilia and has taken up the challenge to race as a wild card rider on several occasions in Superbike Championship in 2010 and 2011. Last, but not the least, the eager youngster has raced in 125cc and 250cc classes in Moto GP world championship from 2005 until 2008.

Continue reading: Federico Sandi joins Effenbert Liberty's Superstock team

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