Bradl still in limbo over MotoGP move

MotoGP News
Date: 3/September/2011

Moto2 title leader Stefan Bradl expected a 2012 MotoGP deal to have been completed by now.

The German won four of the opening six races this season and, although Marc Marquez has been the man to beat since, Bradl still holds a 28-point lead at the top of the standings.

While rookie Marquez has failed to score four times, Bradl has made only one race mistake and the 21-year-old's speed, consistency - and nationality - has put him firmly on the MotoGP radar for 2012.

Interest has been shown by both Honda and Yamaha, although the situation became further complicated after Bradl's present Viessmann Kiefer Moto2 team gained a MotoGP entry of its own for 2012.

But when HRC boss Shuhei Nakamoto spoke of having a 'German-speaking rider' next season, it seemed to confirm speculation that Kiefer would forsake a CRT MotoGP project and join forces with the LCR Honda team.

The suggestion is that Bradl would ride an RC213V, in Viessmann colours and with Kiefer team members, while the other side of the LCR garage would run factory reject Andrea Dovizioso.

But Bradl admits no deal has yet been done.

"It is not decided. I think that it just depends on the money side," he said. "Everybody knows that the German guys would be interested in coming to MotoGP. But still it's not sure.

"I expected a decision before this race but it didn’t happen. I have to focus on my job right now and leave the rest to my team and my father and so on. I cannot tell you exactly what is going on next year."

Stefan is the son of Helmut Bradl, a five-time 250cc grand prix winner who finished runner-up in the 1991 world championship. Stefan will be aiming to hold off Marquez and go one better this season.

Germany, which hosts a sell-out MotoGP round at the Sachsenring, has been without a home rider since Alex Hofmann was sacked from the Pramac Ducati team towards the end of the 2007 season.