Six new teams approved for 2012 MotoGP series

Six teams, including Scott Redding’s Marc VDS Racing Moto2 squad, have been accepted for the new 1000cc MotoGP world championship in 2012.

Moto2 world championship leader Stefan Bradl’s Keifer Racing squad have also been offered a contract to participate, as has Thomas Luthi’s Paddock GP Racing Team.

Andrea Iannone’s Speed Master team, Forward Racing and BQR are the other teams to have been offered contracts.

Today’s announcement made no mention of legendary British manufacturer Norton’s involvement, though applications from new manufacturers wishing to participate continue to be evaluated.

It is not sure whether all the teams on the published list will compete next season, with Dorna confirming to MCN during last weekend’s British Grand Prix that its new contract with Bridgestone is for the supply of tyres to a maximum of 22 riders in 2012. That number can be increased in 2013 to 24, with BMW hotly tipped to enter with a two-rider factory effort.

If the existing grid remains at the current level of 17 bikes and each of the new teams plans to enter one rider, that expands the grid to 23, though it is possible one of the existing independant teams in MotoGP may fall by the wayside.

Of all the new teams listed, only Redding’s Marc VDS Racing squad has been track testing with a new project, using a satellite WSB-spec BMW S1000RR engine housed in a chassis built by Swiss specialist Suter Racing Technology.

Finnish rider Mika Kallio has been riding the new bike in Mugello this week alongside Nicky Hayden and Valentino Rossi, who have been assessing Ducati’s prototype 1000cc GP12.