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The Racing Steps Foundation backed motorcycle racing squad is switching from the 125cc category to Moto3 for 2012, it announced today.
The KRP-run team – comprising John McPhee (Oban, Argyll), Fraser Rogers (Chippenham, Wilts) and Wayne Ryan (New Romney, Kent) – is swapping its recently retired Aprilia and Honda two-strokes for the new 250cc four-stroke machines which will be campaigned across Europe.
The extensive test and race programme takes in the three main continental championships for the Moto3 class – the CEV Buckler, CIV and IDM series in Spain, Italy, and Germany – along with the single-round UEM European Championship at Albacete in October.
The squad also hopes to earn wildcard entries to the British Grand Prix at Silverstone in June and two other European rounds on the World Championship calendar.
The RSF riders – who competed in Spain’s CEV Buckler and British 125GP Championships last year – will step up to the new category astride KRP’s own-design Hondas.
The KRP M3-01 machines – which are being built by the Buckinghamshire-based team to its own Moto3-compliant specification – feature innovative chassis and swingarms designed by long-time KRP associate BORA Specialised Fabrications.
KRP team boss-turned-constructor Mark Keen and RSF motorcycle racing co-ordinator Peter Ball are also working closely with ex-Honda and Ferrari engineer Osamu Goto’s Lausanne-based Geo Technology on engine supply and race kits.
The prototype chassis are at an advanced stage awaiting delivery of the NSF 250R powerplants and add-ons.
Keen and Ball have scheduled the riders to put the prototype through its paces at Albacete in early March following preliminary test runs in the UK in mid to late February.
“The step up to Moto3 is an exciting challenge,” said Ball. “Our preparation is going well, albeit it’s going to be a race against time to get the bikes ready and tested for the start of the season due to delays in the supply of Honda engines and other essential components.
“But practically all the other teams are in the same boat so it’s going be a more or less level playing field for the majority of us.”
Team boss Keen added: “It will be interesting see how the other teams and bikes perform on the basis that we’re all starting from scratch. As a constructor our hope is that we’ve built a better bike than the others. But only time will tell.”
The RSF riders will compete in all seven of the CEV rounds in Spain together with selected non-clashing rounds in the Italian CIV and German IDM Championships.
McPhee, aged 17, and Rogers (16), return to action after their debut seasons in the CEV 125cc Championship in which they finished 10th and 18th. McPhee will also draw on the experience gained from three 125cc World Championship rides in 2010/11.
Ryan (15) hits the continental series with two years’ experience in the British 125GP Championship under his belt. The teenager – who finished the 2011 UK series as Vice-Champion – also competed in three of the 2011 CEV rounds.
RSF founder Graham Sharp has singled out Dorna’s CEV Buckler Moto3 Championship as the team’s main focus over the course of the season.
“Dorna has shown time and again that it’s the best proving ground for the MotoGP riders of the future,” he said. “And MotoGP is where we want our riders to be. That was our aim when we added motorcycle racing to the RSF’s remit and that’s what we’re working hard to achieve. Consequently the CEV Championship is an essential part of our plan.”
The team’s first race will be round one of the CIV Championship at Mugello on March 25. The opening round of the CEV Buckler Championship takes place at Jerez on April 1.
RSF Rider CVs and Foundation Background
John McPhee
Born: 14 July 1994
Lives: Oban, Scotland
2011: CEV 125GP Championship – 10th / 38pts. CIV 125GP Championship (two rounds only) – 20th / 8pts. MotoGP / 125cc World Championship wild card entries – Catalunya GP (26th), British GP, Silverstone (15th). 2010: British 125GP Championship – 5th overall (1 win, 4 podiums), U17s ACU Academy Cup – 2nd (3 wins, 7 podiums, 3 FLs).
2009: British 125GP Championship – 36th overall, U17s ACU Academy Cup – 14th (broken ankle, eight rounds only).
2008: Scottish, North East of England and Melville Formula 125 Championships – Triple Champion (42 races, 29 wins, 37 podiums).
2007: Scottish, North East of England and Melville Championships (15 races, 1 win, 7 podiums).
2006-1999: Oban Youth Motocross (50, 65 and 85cc categories) – Eight-times Champion
Fraser Rogers
Born: 19 December 1995.
Lives: Chippenham, Wiltshire, England.
2011: CEV 125GP Championship (six out of seven rounds only due to knee injury) – 18th / 20pts. CIV 125GP Championship (two rounds only) – 21st / 6pts.
2010: British 125GP Championship – 6th overall (1 podium), 3rd in U17s ACU Academy Cup (2 wins, 6 podiums, 2 FLs).
2009:Thundersport GB GP3 Championship – Champion (7 wins, 19 podiums) and integral GP3 Cup winner (17 wins, 19 podiums).
2008: Thundersport GB 125cc Aprilia Superteens – Champion; Nitro Newcomers’ Champion; ACU Clubmans Formula 125 Champion.
2007:Fab-Racing British GP70 Championship – Champion.
2006: British Metrakit GP70 Challenge (3 podiums).
2005: British Metrakit GP50 Challenge (podium finishes); British GP50 Conti Cup (podium finishes); and British Junior Minimoto 4.2 Championship – Champion.
Wayne Ryan
Born: 05 May 1996
Lives: Littlestone, New Romney, Kent, England.
2011: BSB British 125GP Championship – Vice-Champion / 91pts (2 wins, 2 poles, 7 podiums, 3 fastest lap). Integral U17s ACU Academy Cup runner-up / 204pts (3 wins, 8 podiums, 4 fastest laps).
2010: British 125GP Championship – 13th overall (4 top 10 finishes), 7th in integral U17s ACU Academy Cup (3 podiums).
2009:Thundersport GB 125cc Aprilia Superteens Champion (7 wins, 18 podiums, 2 RLs).
2008: Thundersport GB 125cc Aprilia Superteens Championship – 5th overall, winner of “Most Improved Superteen Rider of the Year” award, Mallory Park Race of the Year 125cc Winner.
2007: British GP50 Conti Cup – Vice-Champion.
2006: SEMRC Minimoto Championship (4.2hp and 8.5hp).
2005: Novice Minimoto
Racing Steps Foundation Background
The Racing Steps Foundation (RSF) is a private, not-for-profit fund that provides and finances competition and personal performance development programmes for young British racing drivers and motorcycle racers.
The backing is provided for those who have the skills and determination to climb to the top of the international motorsports ladder but who lack the funds and mentoring needed.
It was set up in 2007 and in 2012 will support an elite group of competitors in single-seater motor racing in GP2, British F3 International, Formula Renault 2.0 UK and Formula Renault 2.0 Eurocup, top-level UK and international KF2 karting, and Spanish, Italian and German Moto3 motorcycle racing.
Racing Steps Foundation Motorcycle Remit
The RSF’s aim is to provide a comprehensively-resourced route to the pinnacle of motorcycle racing for talented, young British riders.
It widened its remit to include motorcycle racing in December 2009 and works closely with its Ambassador – seven-times World Motorcycle and Formula 1 Champion John Surtees – and KRP team principal Mark Keen to identify and nurture suitably talented and dedicated riders.
Current beneficiaries are John McPhee, Fraser Rogers and Wayne Ryan (see above). All three riders race with KRP, the Foundation’s Moto3 team partner.
Racing Steps Foundation backed KRP riders (left to right) Wayne Ryan, John McPhee and Fraser Rogers who switch from 125cc two-strokes to the new-for-2012 Moto3 four-stroke category. The riders test and race programme takes in the CEV, CIV and IDM Championships in Spain, Italy and Germany as well as the single round UEM European Championship. The riders are also aiming to earn wildcards for World Championship Moto3 rounds.