Dorna step in at Pramac to maintain grid numbers
Added on Tuesday, October 19th, 2010 by Carole Nash Editor
Dorna step in at Pramac to maintain grid numbers
Moto2 champion Toni Elias looks set to move back to MotoGP after promoters Dorna Sports stepped in to prevent further losses from the already sparse GP grid.
With Suzuki set to run just a single rider package next season as part of wider cost cutting measures, Dorna has reportedly given a cash injection to the Pramac Ducati team to prevent them from cutting their involvement in the championship.
Pramac had been expected to run a single rider team with Loris Capirossi as their rider for 2011 after apparent talks with German World Superbike rider, which would have opened several key sponsorship opportunities, fell through.
Now Dorna, conscious of MotoGP’s increasingly diminishing grid following the withdrawal of Kawasaki in 2009, have stepped in with a cash injection that will see Elias assume his place as Pramac’s second rider.
Elias is no stranger to the satellite Ducati, having ridden for the team in 2008 and it is expected that he will replace the Moto2-bound Aleix Espargaro.
It is also believed that Honda will run a three-rider factory effort in 2011 after Spanish fuel giant Repsol committed to increasing their support of MotoGP in 2011. That would allow Casey Stoner, Dani Pedrosa and Andrea Dovizioso to all ride with the Repsol Honda colours, eliminating the need for Dovizioso to make the move to Gresini Honda.
