Did Octagon initiate WCM disqualification?

The Harris WCM team have revealed to Crash.net that their disqualification by the FIM, on the grounds of alleged technical infringement, followed a complaint by former World Superbike rights holder Octagon.

"We have had universal support from everyone in Grand Prix, including the teams and manufacturers. I am sure that none of them are concerned by our presence," Peter Clifford, WCM Director of Racing, told Crash.net. "The FIM started to give us grief following a complaint from Octagon, at the time owners of the Superbike rights. This is outside politics pure and simple, nothing to do with anything inside our sport."

The presumed reason for Octagon's complaint was to protect their WSBK series, at present practically a 'Ducati Cup' after more and more manufacturers turned their attention fully to MotoGP.

With Harris WCM building a GP racer loosely based around R1 engine dimensions (combined with their own chassis) in around three-months, and at an 'affordable' price - could Octagon have been trying to prevent more WSBK teams doing the same and leaving for a place in the much more lucrative MotoGP series...?

This however would be more difficult than it sounds since any new team would need to link up with an exisiting GP outfit, in order to have a place on the grid.

Octagon's parent company, Interpublic, have since sold the rights to WSBK back to previous owners the Flammini brothers, through their newly named FGSportsGroup.

The reasons given by the FIM for disqualifying the WCM team from the Africa's and Spanish Grands Prix can be summarised as:

"1) The Harris WCM motorcycle does not have an engine of its own original design, because the engine concept, layout and main parts are Yamaha.

"2) The Harris WCM motorcycle is using major engine castings derived from the Yamaha R1 model, which is a well known industrial product, sold in several thousand units."

Both points were contested by Clifford at the time, stating that the WCM engine is as original as any other on the grid, while point two was challenged because of the vagueness of the phrase 'Industrial Production', but the FIM's decision was final and the team weren't allowed to race, or even ride, under appeal.

The WCM team lodged their appeal to the International Disciplinary Court against the original decision taken at South Africa. The hearing will take place at the FIM headquarters in Mies, Switzerland, today (May 16).

"I am now in Geneva preparing for our appeal to the FIM's CDI on Friday (today). Hopefully we can race at Le Mans," added Clifford yesterday.

Crash.net will bring news of the appeal verdict as soon as it's known...