Moto2 team boss Sito Pons says that MotoGP has made it clear that “there is no place” for a new independent outfit to enter the championship any time soon.
The Spaniard – who ran a highly-successful premier class squad for over a decade during the 1990’s and early 2000’s – revealed to Austrian publication Speedweek that he has been trying to return his organisation to MotoGP since 2013, with his recent attempt at a comeback following Suzuki’s shock withdrawal from the series in April last year also falling on deaf ears.
Pons says that he has held “many discussions” with Dorna – MotoGP’s organising body – CEO Carmelo Ezpeleta following Suzuki’s exit, though he says he was told the two spots left open by the Japanese manufacturer were being saved for a new factory operation and not a new private endeavour.
“We have had many discussions about MotoGP with Dorna CEO Carmelo Ezpeleta,” Pons told Speedweek.
“We officially asked him if we could come back to the MotoGP class with Team Pons, but Carmelo has made it clear to me that he wants a manufacturer and is not signing any additional satellite teams at the moment.
“That was his clear answer. We have been asking him for many years if we can get MotoGP slots. There was an opportunity once, but we missed it because no factory would give us bikes.
“When Suzuki announced its withdrawal in May, we did it again and talked to Carmelo.
“We have the resources, we have the experience, but unfortunately there is no place for a private team.”
Pons eponymous team has run in the intermediate class since it returned to the grand prix paddock back in 2009 following a three year absence after he was forced to shutter his premier class operation due to financial woes, though it also added a MotoE programme to its roster.
The squad scored its maiden GP title with Pol Espargaro in Moto2 back in 2013 following a thrilling battle with Marc VDS pilot Scott Redding, while it also scored back-to-back MotoE rider’s crowns courtesy of Jordi Torres across the 2020-’21 campaigns.
