So How's It Going?

Well, if Ducati thought they were going to catch up with 1000cc between the wheels, they seem to be misguided. After completion of the second private test round at Valencia, the Honda RC213V is top of the heap, with fastest times by Pedrosa and Stoner. Fastest CRT (Claiming Rule Team) rider was Colin Edwards on the BMW-powered Suter team bike. Several factory riders were absent, notably Rossi and Dovizioso who are driving in the Simoncelli-themed Monza Rally and Nicky Hayden's recuperating from wrist surgery. For 2012 Randy DePuniet will be on the Aspar, Aprillia powered CRT bike. Times for the CRT bikes seem to be 10 seconds slower than the Hondas, so we may see two distinct classes going round the tracks. It's early yet.

What's a CRT you say? Well, the engines for these non-factory teams cannot be supplied by one of the big four factories (Yamaha, Honda, Ducati and Suzuki). They get 12 motors instead of 6 and 24 litres of fuel instead of 21. Any of the big four teams can claim and buy any CRT motor at the end of any race for €20,000 with transmission or €15,000 without. A maximum of four claims can be made against one CRT in any one racing season, and each factory team may not claim more than one engine per year from the same CRT. So now you know.

Next action is the 2012 Official Test at Sepang, 31 Jan - 02 Feb.