Alstare to leave World Superbikes

Alstare team owner Francis Batta has announced that his team will not continue in the World Superbike Championship next season.

In a revealing interview with the e-magazine edition of CycleNews.com Batta first confirmed that Suzuki is to end official support for WSBK competition, and then ruled out switching to another manufacturer.

Batta said: "I regret to say this, but no [I will not continue with Suzuki]. Mr Nakai, the head of the racing department, has now definitely confirmed Suzuki wishes to cease all factory involvement in Superbike racing at world level."

Batta added that he had turned down the possibility of running the official WSBK teams for fellow Japanese brands Kawasaki and Yamaha out of respect for his 12-year Suzuki collaboration.

However the Belgian, who took Troy Corser to the 2005 WSBK title and finished second with Leon Haslam in 2010, had been interested in joining forces with European manufacturer MV Agusta.

"MV Agusta seemed an attractive option... However I've made countless appointments to see Massimo Bordi at the MV factory, but each time he's postponed our meeting, so I can only conclude that they are not serious about their statements that they intend to go racing.

"So it's not a question of turning the page, but of closing the book and putting it on the shelf. Team Alstare is leaving motorcycle racing."

Lone Alstare Suzuki rider Michel Fabrizio finished twelfth overall, with one podium, in this year's championship.

Batta said the last time Suzuki had sent the team new bikes was three years ago.

Crescent Racing will step up from BSB to WSBK with Suzuki machinery next season, but Paul Denning's team has announced that its engines will be developed by Yoshimura.