Forward Yamaha to miss Indianapolis MotoGP

Fallout from the arrest of team owner Giovanni Cuzari means Forward Racing will be forced to miss the Indianapolis MotoGP.

Cuzari's investigation by Swiss police over alleged tax evasion and other financial impropriety, which began after the recent German round, has resulted in the team's funding effectively being cut off.

'Unfortunately, the reaction of the sponsors, the main source of income of an independent team, was immediate and resolute,' said a team statement. 'Inevitably some of them cancelled the existing contracts and interrupted payments, creating further financial troubles that could jeopardise completely the survival of the Team.

'The activity of these last days was therefore focused on rebuilding sponsor relationships, the Team was able to reach a consensus to regain some vital economic aid to cover the costs of the upcoming races. New processes of collection and payment were activated, the economic admin was rebuilt and new operational modalities were agreed with the Public Prosecutor of Lugano (Procura di Lugano).'

Nevertheless, the Forward MotoGP and Moto2 teams will both be absent from Indianapolis on August 7-9, while efforts continue to re-join the championship one week later in Brno.

'The concrete possibility to start again and the hope to protect the interests of our riders, engineers, contractors and suppliers, led us to agree with IRTA, the International Racing Teams Association, not to deploy our riders at the start of the Red Bull Indianapolis Grand Prix on August 9th, in order to gather all the resources and to better organise the upcoming trips.

'This painful decision was necessary in order to try to ensure our participation to the World Championship until the end of the season.'

Forward Racing managing director Marco Curioni stated: "It was a very difficult week for the Forward Racing. Only in the last hours we have glimpsed the real possibility of overcome this situation. I hope to have Giovanni - who until proven to the contrary he is correct to assume innocent - soon with us and available to find a solution.

"In this dark moment, several 'partners' and 'friends' have understandably distanced [themselves] from the team and then for this reason I want to thank those who are helping us: Dorna and IRTA gave us full support from the beginning, all members of the team that gave their unconditional support and those sponsors and new companies - that despite the objective concerns - gave us confidence and are interpreting the meaning of sponsorship in the original reason: financial aid to allow the athlete to realise his talent".

Stefan Bradl was hoping to make his comeback from a fractured wrist at Indy. Given the uncertainty at Forward, the German's name is being linked with the ex-Marco Melandri seat at Aprilia.

Rookie team-mate Loris Baz finished the first half of the season an impressive second in the Open class, just five points from Hector Barbera. Lorenzo Baldassarri and Simone Corsi are currently 12th and 14th on Kalex equipment in Moto2.

Title sponsor Athina is rumoured to be among the brands that have left Forward.