Motegi MotoGP: Moto2 engine supplier decision delayed

The decision on which manufacturer will supply engines for the new Moto2 four-stroke class has been delayed until next weekend’s Spanish GP in Jerez.

Dorna boss Carmelo Ezpeleta spent two days in the build-up to this weekend’s Japanese MotoGP race speaking to senior management at Yamaha, Honda, Suzuki and Kawasaki to gauge interest in the new class, which will replace the 250cc two-stroke world championship in 2010.

A decision was expected during the Japanese GP, but MCN understands more than one manufacturer has submitted a formal bid to be the sole engine supplier, delaying a final decision until the Jerez race.

An announcement on the successful bidder is expected to follow a meeting of the Grand Prix Commission in Spain, where changes to the current practice time will also again be on the agenda.

For 2009, practice time was slashed from one hour to 45 minutes and Friday morning practice axed completely to cut down on expensive engine mileage in the global economic crisis.

The time reduction was under review after several teams and riders expressed concern that the 45-minute session left little time to make crucial set-up changes during the first race in Qatar.

The solution was to extend practice back to one hour but introduce a limit on the number of laps completed to help keep engine mileage down.

But MCN has learned that plan has now been ditched after a meeting of the Motorcycle Sport Manufacturers Association prior to this weekend’s Japanese GP at the Twin Ring Motegi.

New proposals expecting to be agreed by the Grand Prix Commission in Jerez will see the full one-hour session restored with unlimited laps.

With the plan only being officially proposed in Jerez, full one-hour sessions are unlikely to be run again until the French GP in Le Mans later next month