John Surtees 125GP team drops Maxtra name

The new Chinese-backed 125GP team spearheaded by British motorsport legend John Surtees will not race under the Maxtra name.

Provisional entry lists released by the FIM yesterday (Monday) have British rider Matt Hoyle and team-mate Michael Ranseder racing under the Haojue banner.

That is the name of the Chinese manufacturer funding the ambitious project, which was unveiled at last year’s Chinese GP in Shanghai.

The team has had to re-brand after reports that a French company has claimed the Maxtra name, nine months after Surtees helped launch the project last May.

The Haojue machine features a chassis designed by British experts Harris Performance with an engine built by renowned two-stroke designer Jan Witteveen.

As expected, four Brits will contest this year’s 125GP world championship, with Bradley Smith, Scott Redding and Danny Webb all currently testing at the Estoril circuit in Portugal.