AUGUST 24, 2006

Illien aiming for MotoGP

Mario Illien cannot build Formula 1 engines for a year or two because of a deal he has with Mercedes-Benz, but that does not mean the Swiss engine designer cannot win races in MotoGP. Illien has designed and built an 800cc V4 engine motorcycle engine and hopes to battle Yamaha, Honda and Ducati for the World Championship in the years ahead. The Ilmor company will debut a bike in the MotoGP event in Portugal of October 15 and intends to run a full team next year. Ilmor engines have won two Formula 1 World Championships and 11 victories in the Indianapolis 500. The chassis of the new bike has been designed by Swiss engineer Eskil Suter and the word is that Ilmor will try to get veteran racers Alex Barros and Max Biaggi to ride the bike in the months ahead.