No Blata V6 at Brno.

Crash.net has learnt that the Blata V6 MotoGP machine, which was due to make its belated debut with WCM at the minibike manufacturer's home Czech Republic Grand Prix on August 28, will not make the event.

WCM have been competing with their own four-cylinder motorcycle since losing Red Bull and Yamaha backing at the end of 2002 but, like Team Roberts, sought manufacturer support to help advance back up the grid.

Ellison, British MotoGP, 2005
Ellison, British MotoGP, 2005
© Gold and Goose

Crash.net has learnt that the Blata V6 MotoGP machine, which was due to make its belated debut with WCM at the minibike manufacturer's home Czech Republic Grand Prix on August 28, will not make the event.

WCM have been competing with their own four-cylinder motorcycle since losing Red Bull and Yamaha backing at the end of 2002 but, like Team Roberts, sought manufacturer support to help advance back up the grid.

The 500GP winning team looked to have acquired such backing when they signed an agreement with Blata "to develop a V6 MotoGP machine with which to contest the 2005 World Championship" late in 2004, but delays meant the machine's arrival was put back to the upcoming Czech race - round eleven of this year's championship.

However, much to the disappointment of WCM and its riders James Ellison and Franco Battaini, this date will now also be missed and it is not known when the machine will be seen.

WCM has punched above its weight to score five-points so far this season with their Dunlop shod machine, placing the Peter Clifford run outfit above Team Roberts - whose own engine supplier, KTM, recently announced that it would halt its MotoGP project.

The Austrian company cited funding and the need to build a totally new engine for the 2007 season, when MotoGP powerplant capacity will be reduced from 990 to 800cc, as the main reasons for its withdraw.

It is not known if Blata have similar concerns, but a statement from the company regarding the V6 situation could be made later this week.

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