James Ellison unsure of 2013 MotoGP prospects

James Ellison says he has no clue whether he will be riding in the MotoGP world championship next season.

The Cumbrian made it clear in Phillip Island today that he wants to get a new deal with Paul Bird’s ART squad, but said he no information about whether he will form one half of a new two-rider PBM UK effort next season.

Ellison equalled his career best MotoGP finish in a storm-lashed Sepang race in Malaysia last Sunday when he scored a hard fought ride to ninth. He is currently 16th in the overall rankings.

Bird will run a two rider effort next season with one Aprilia ART machine and a second bike with his own British designed and developed chassis powered by an Aprilia motor.

Triple BSB champion Shane Byrne, Tommy Hill and Sam Lowes have all been linked to the ride but as yet Bird hasn’t confirmed his rider line-up.

Speaking in Australia on the eve of the penultimate race of the season Ellison said: “ It is tough for everybody because it is MotoGP. Mentally it has been quite tough because as you remember just before Le Mans, Paul Bird was saying he was going to replace me in the middle of the season and then I started to get some decent results and that all started to get swept under the carpet. It has been a difficult one for me but I have just tried to get my head down and get the results and do the best I can on track and try and block all that out and do the best job I can.

I would really like to stay where I am. There is a lot of potential in the team and I have enjoyed working with them this year and I feel with a teammate and a testing plan next year it can be good. I just want to go full steam ahead and hopefully Paul will keep me on, but it is up to him. I don’t have a clue at the minute and its probably better buying MCN after Valencia because they normally know more than what I do.”