Team Roberts threatens to withdraw from MotoGP.
Discussion
Serious or attempt to drum up sponsorship or news space?
Team Roberts owner, Kenny Roberts, has revealed that his independent British-based outfit could withdraw from the upcoming 2007 MotoGP World Championship if it does not secure additional sponsorship by the end of next week's Jerez test.
Team Roberts rose from the ashes of a disastrous partnership with KTM to enjoy a productive 2006, after acquiring Honda engines to power their own-built chassis. Former world champion Kenny Jr rode the KR211V to sixth in the championship and two podium finishes, potentially setting the scene for even greater things - with the same technical partners - in 2007.
However, speaking in an interview with Superbikeplanet.com, Kenny Sr has warned that at present the finance necessary to run a full MotoGP season is missing - and that a decision on his team's participation is imminent.
"Well, we're not a bank. So right now, it doesn't look good," confirmed 'King Kenny', a triple 500cc world champion. "That could change overnight, but at the moment I can say that there's too much funding that's not there... We have a [target] budget that we can do this season with, and we're short on that budget by about 20%, I would say, right now."
Roberts added that the amount MotoGP rights holder's Dorna Sports can contribute could be the crucial factor.
"Well, I think that [Dorna] help all the smaller teams in one way or another, if they can. There's a limit to what they can do, as well. Now, if the cost gets above the limit that they can help, and we can't do it, we're not going to do it. And I'm going to make that decision in a week," underlined Roberts. "That's going to be largely sitting down with Dorna, of course, and Honda, and saying, 'Okay, guys, here's the bottom line. We can't fix this. If it can't be fixed, I'm out'. Unfortunately, that's a decision I've got to make after the IRTA test, because I don't really want to ship to the first grand prix if I know I'm not going to do it."
Kenny also expressed his frustration at the number of sponsors which prefer to have a low-key presence in Formula One to a major profile in MotoGP.
"There are sponsors in Formula One that pay three times as much for a sticker on a car, as what they could have a whole MotoGP team for," he claimed. "The only thing I can judge from that is that the hospitality at Formula One is really what they want, not selling their product. Because you can't, you cannot, argue the point that that is getting to more people than motorcycles. No way. You just can't do it.
"You couldn't stand up in front of a corporate board and say, 'Look, this sticker on a Formula One car is going to get a lot more press than having a fully-backed two-rider Team Roberts in MotoGP, for the same amount of money'. You cannot say that. Because the TV stats in MotoGP are going up, and Formula One's going down. It's the craziest thing for us to be in this position now, while MotoGP is going up so much. I'm going to make a decision next week, and we're going to go or no go. It's just odd. We don't know."
Roberts Jr finished 16th fastest at this week's Qatar test. The Jerez IRTA test, the final pre-season outing, will take place from February 23-25, with the season opening Qatar Grand Prix on March 10.
Crash.net said:
Team Roberts owner, Kenny Roberts, has revealed that his independent British-based outfit could withdraw from the upcoming 2007 MotoGP World Championship if it does not secure additional sponsorship by the end of next week's Jerez test.
Team Roberts rose from the ashes of a disastrous partnership with KTM to enjoy a productive 2006, after acquiring Honda engines to power their own-built chassis. Former world champion Kenny Jr rode the KR211V to sixth in the championship and two podium finishes, potentially setting the scene for even greater things - with the same technical partners - in 2007.
However, speaking in an interview with Superbikeplanet.com, Kenny Sr has warned that at present the finance necessary to run a full MotoGP season is missing - and that a decision on his team's participation is imminent.
"Well, we're not a bank. So right now, it doesn't look good," confirmed 'King Kenny', a triple 500cc world champion. "That could change overnight, but at the moment I can say that there's too much funding that's not there... We have a [target] budget that we can do this season with, and we're short on that budget by about 20%, I would say, right now."
Roberts added that the amount MotoGP rights holder's Dorna Sports can contribute could be the crucial factor.
"Well, I think that [Dorna] help all the smaller teams in one way or another, if they can. There's a limit to what they can do, as well. Now, if the cost gets above the limit that they can help, and we can't do it, we're not going to do it. And I'm going to make that decision in a week," underlined Roberts. "That's going to be largely sitting down with Dorna, of course, and Honda, and saying, 'Okay, guys, here's the bottom line. We can't fix this. If it can't be fixed, I'm out'. Unfortunately, that's a decision I've got to make after the IRTA test, because I don't really want to ship to the first grand prix if I know I'm not going to do it."
Kenny also expressed his frustration at the number of sponsors which prefer to have a low-key presence in Formula One to a major profile in MotoGP.
"There are sponsors in Formula One that pay three times as much for a sticker on a car, as what they could have a whole MotoGP team for," he claimed. "The only thing I can judge from that is that the hospitality at Formula One is really what they want, not selling their product. Because you can't, you cannot, argue the point that that is getting to more people than motorcycles. No way. You just can't do it.
"You couldn't stand up in front of a corporate board and say, 'Look, this sticker on a Formula One car is going to get a lot more press than having a fully-backed two-rider Team Roberts in MotoGP, for the same amount of money'. You cannot say that. Because the TV stats in MotoGP are going up, and Formula One's going down. It's the craziest thing for us to be in this position now, while MotoGP is going up so much. I'm going to make a decision next week, and we're going to go or no go. It's just odd. We don't know."
Roberts Jr finished 16th fastest at this week's Qatar test. The Jerez IRTA test, the final pre-season outing, will take place from February 23-25, with the season opening Qatar Grand Prix on March 10.
I hope it's not the case. I remember reading at the end of last year that they were confident that they would secure a big name backer due to their improved results. Hopefully it is another case of bad reporting. The source (Superbikeplanet) has the journalistic reputation of MCN, but given the quotes from Kenny it looks like it may be for real.
ninjaboy said:
y2blade said:
bye bye team roberts....dont slam the door on the way out
Thats what i thought, they ain't bought anything worthwhile to Moto GP except seeing his moody face from time to time to moan about things
Are you sure about your comment?
Did you not see the KR beat most of the Honda factory bikes on numerous occasions last year?? KR JR rode the sh*t out of the bike and made a mockery of the Honda machinery. Ok, he never won a race but nearly did at Estoril up against Rossi and Elias, he just can't count laps!!! LOL
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