Shaun Muir’s Milwaukee-backed MCE British Superbike outfit could be lining up a shock switch to Aprilia machinery in the World Superbike Championship next season.
Strong rumours from both championships say that even though Muir’s Yamaha team have put in the bulk of the development work on the new R1 - with Josh Brookes winning both races at Brands Hatch on Sunday - he could be left out in the cold when Yamaha make their decision on who will run the factory WSBK team next season.
It is believed that Yamaha Europe were supposed to make a decision on next year by the end of June but no announcement has been forthcoming. Muir’s squad are definitely in the running but have some stiff competition - not least from an in-house squad run by Andrea Dosoli and probably featuring Marco Melandri.
Ten Kate have also been linked with the job, as have Althea Racing. Valentino Rossi’s VR46 team have been also been connected and Rossi has done a lot of laps at Misano on the R1. Even Paul Denning’s Crescent outfit, so long a Suzuki team, are apparently in the mix but Suzuki are due to wheel out a new GSX-R1000 in 2016.
As to who would ride, Muir is very keen to keep Josh Brookes wherever he decides to put his team in 2016 and Brookes is equally keen to get back on to the world stage. Could there be a seat for Nicky Hayden alongside the Australian when the Kentucky rider’s MotoGP career comes to an end.
Dorna, who own both MotoGP and SBK, need a fast Australian and a fast American in the series to try and counter the glut of British riders currently dominating the championship, so may well underwrite Hayden’s hefty wage bill.
