Talmacsi Wins Scot Racing Seat over Takahashi in the MotoGP

Gabor Talmacsi

Hungarian ace Gabor Talmacsi has become Scot Racing Team's only ride for the remainder of the 2009 MotoGP season. The announcement was made by the MotoGP outfit via a press release, prior to this weekend's race at Laguna Seca, as it seems financial difficulties have led to the scrapping of Yuki Takahashi pragramme with Scot Racing.

Talmacsi, former 125cc winner in the FIM Road Racing World Championship, stepped up to the MotoGP class in Barcelona, after securing a good sponsorship deal to support a full-time programme with the Italian outfit. Although it was initially believed that the team will keep both its riders for the entire 2009 season, financial difficulties have made it impossible for team manager Cirano Mularoni to maintain a 2-bike approach in 2009.

“The Team would face a lot of new costs to line up two riders and without the possibility to improve its results with Yuki because he has suffered a slipped disc in his back, most likely caused by recent falls. So our team has decided to stop racing with Yuki and to wait for his recovery before taking any decisions on his future,” confirmed Mularoni.

The decision will leave Moto GP and, more importantly Honda, without a Japanese rider in the series. However, understanding Scot Racing's situation, the Japanese bike maker revealed it would not withdraw their support to the Italian team.

“For Honda as well as the Scot Racing Team, this is a sad announcement and one we wanted to avoid if at all possible,” said Shuhei Nakamoto, vice president of HRC. “But we understand the Team's problems with regard to the increased costs of running two riders. Takahashi was the only Japanese rider in the MotoGP championship and of course Honda wanted to see him continue.”

“But in the end the Team made it clear that this outcome was impossible and we respect their decision. Honda will continue to support the Scot Racing Team in MotoGP with Gabor Talmacsi riding,” added the HRC official.

Talmacsi will head to Laguna Seca for the first time in career, as he reckoned it will be difficult for him to get a good result on a track that he never visited before. The Hungarian rider is yet to score a point after 2 MotoGP starts, as he ended both races as the last standing rider of the field.