By Peter McLaren
Team Roberts held mid-season discussions with MV Agusta about the possibility of running a factory WSBK outfit next year, but the Italian factory - whose planned partnership with Foggy Racing was recently scrapped - seems to be backing away from the series.
"Although we had some exploratory discussions with MV, that was in the middle of summer and we have not really spoken since. I think their interest in participating next season has gone away, but that is something you would have to ask them directly," Team Roberts team manager Chuck Aksland told
Crash.net.
"If an opportunity to participate in World Superbike came up, then we would certainly look at that as one option," Aksland continued. "We already develop parts for some teams participating in World Superbike, so this could be a natural progression. Of course, it takes either working with a manufacturer or having a sponsor to have this sort of project make sense. As I mentioned, if the right opportunity came up we would certainly look at it."
But the main aim is
MotoGP, where Team KR - the only independent outfit on the 19-rider grid - has used Honda engines and Michelin tyres to compliment its Banbury-built chassis for the past two seasons.
The first year of the collaboration was a spectacular success, with former world champion Kenny Jr coming within one lap of winning the 2006 Portuguese Grand Prix, during a season in which he scored two podiums and claimed sixth in the championship.
However, the change to 800cc engines and introduction of new tyre restrictions for 2007 hit Honda and Michelin hard - and combined to deliver a hefty double-blow to Team Roberts. With Honda's new engine lacking output, HRC threw all its resources into the factory Repsol Honda Team in a bid to close the gap to its rivals as quickly as possible. Much needed new parts then slowly filtered down to the satellite Honda teams from mid-season onwards, but are still to reach Team Roberts.
