Will BMW and Aprilia be racing in MotoGP in 2012? That’s a question that’s been floating around since the FIM and Dorna announced the new MotoGP rules that will go into effect in 2012.
with final ratification expected at the Japanese GP in Motegi on the weekend of April 24-25.
Eskil Suter who prepares the MMX (roman numerals for 2010) chassis for numerous Moto2 bikes and who saw three bikes using his chassis in first five spots at Qatar, is getting a head start and is preparing a Moto1 bike with a BMW S1000 RR engine (who already meets 81mm bore criteria) and that the new bike could actually be ready by the end of this year and if the paddock gossip is correct, Moto1 rules could be implemented before the 2012 season.
Aprilia is also thinking of joining MotoGP in 2012 and many think that the RSV4 Factory bike was purposely conceived as a step towards entering the MotoGP series and according to the latest news, Piaggio-Aprilia will be in talks with Dorna during several European rounds to sound out their partecipation in the 2012 championship.
This could be the reason why Max Biaggi is already in contract negotiations with Aprilia and is pushing for another two year contract that would make him eligible, despite the fact he’ll be 41 in 2012, to make a triumphant return to MotoGP and the series that decided he was persona non grata.