Caterham in surprise motorbike racing move

Caterham has today revealed it is moving into motorbike racing, with the launch of a Moto2 World Championship team that will debut in 2014.

The two-bike team will compete in the feeder series to the ultra-popular MotoGP championship, with one rider – American Josh Herrin – already being confirmed for one of the race seats.

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Caterham will team up with Swiss motorcycle racing experts Suter Racing Technology to design the new bike.

While Caterham owner Tony Fernandes has long supported motorbike racing through his airline AirAsia, it seems the move into officially creating a bike racing team isn’t simply to please the chairman – it’s part of bigger Caterham plans to expand into motorcycles.

Today’s announcement “marks the beginning of Caterham Group’s foray into the two wheeled industry,” said the firm in a statement.

“Motorcycle product by Caterham Bikes will add to (the) already established four wheel roadcar partnership with Renault and Caterham Cars.”

Caterham Group co-chairman Dato’ Kamarudin Bin Meranun added: “Through AirAsia, Tony Fernandes and I have been passionate supporters of motorbike racing for many years and the establishment of our own team in Moto2 is the natural next step for Caterham Group.

This is just the start of our ambitions on two wheels. We announced in November 2012 that Caterham Cars is now in a joint venture with Renault to build a new range of roadcars, and we will soon be making further announcements about our plans for taking Caterham’s two wheeled interests from the track to the road.”

Two wheels good for Caterham? We didn’t see it coming, but we’re excited by the prospect – particularly given the deal Caterham recently established with Suzuki to supply engines for the famous Seven road car. Could this now be extended into road bikes too?

Very much a case of watch this space with interest…

By motoringresearch.com