de Gea takes second WCM seat?
Twenty-five year old Spaniard David de Gea is believed to have signed for the Harris WCM team to partner Chris Burns for the remainder of the season, starting at the Africas Grand Prix in three weeks time.
Originally German veteran Ralf Waldmann had accepted the ride, but he found problems adjusting to the four-stroke after spending his career on 'screaming' two-stokes. As a result he turned down the chance to return to grand prix racing and has gone into permanent retirement.
Twenty-five year old Spaniard David de Gea is believed to have signed for the Harris WCM team to partner Chris Burns for the remainder of the season, starting at the Africas Grand Prix in three weeks time.
Originally German veteran Ralf Waldmann had accepted the ride, but he found problems adjusting to the four-stroke after spending his career on 'screaming' two-stokes. As a result he turned down the chance to return to grand prix racing and has gone into permanent retirement.
Burns qualified 22nd out of the 25 riders on Friday at Suzuka - ahead of Nicky Hayden's factory Honda, Andrew Pitt's factory Kawasaki and Proton Team KR's Jerermy McWilliams, but was deprived of a deserved MotoGP debut because the WCM team ran out of engines.
The 22-year old Geordie crashed in Saturday free practice and damaged the last of his flat four engines. The team was short of available powerplants because its engine builder, Dave Hagen, damaged ribs in a road accident back in England.
Burns is now expected to make his grand prix debut alongside de Gea, a former d'Antin rider (pictured), in Africa.
