Simon Crafar could return to GPs in 2000 with his fellow New Zealanders at the BSL team. If Crafar- does return to 500s, it will probably be with Dunlop tires, the same brand he used to win last year's British GP on a Red Bull Yamaha. The Kiwi's unusual riding style is unsuited to Michelin slicks, the choice for the vast majority of the 500 grid, and the tires he ran earlier this season before splitting from the Red Bull Yamaha squad after a string of poor results Crafar would run alongside current BSL teamster Mark Willis next year, but BSL won't run its own three-cylinder machine which has yet to start a race. The team will probably run their own versions of the rapid MuZ V4. At recent GPs Willis has been campaigning a Modenas triple, leased from Team Roberts.

Aprilia could run both twin and four-cylinder bikes in next year's 500 world championship. The Italian factory has been campaigning a 500 twin on and off since 1994 but has recently been developing its own version of the SwissAuto V4 motor. "We could run both bikes in 2000," said factory engineer Luigi Dall'Igna. "We are also undertaking a complete redesign of the twin for next season. It will still be a disc-valve twin but with different dimensions and so on. And we are testing a new chassis after the end of this season, designed to reduce front-end lift." Aprilia says Tetsuya Harada will remain as number one 500 rider next year.

Sixteen-year-old Alex Gobert has tested a factory Aprilia 125 with a view to joining eldest brother Anthony on the Grand Prix scene. The youngster rode the bike at Mugello, Aprilia's test track in Italy, and according to Goey turned good lap times. "I honestly believe he's ready for GPs but I guess it all depends on the factory," said his big brother in Rio.

Jeremy McWilliams' QUB Optimum team may add a foreign rider to its stable next year to bring in much-needed sponsorship cash. "We're talking to riders at the moment," said team chief Robert Fleck in Rio. "Ideally we'd like a British or American rider because that's where our current backing comes from, but the reality is that riders from places like Spain and Italy have better chances of bringing a budget, and whoever we sign would have to bring money to the team. There's also another benefit to having a two rider team - you don't have all your risks in one rider." The team has already had talks with GP promoters Dorna about putting McWilliams back in 500s but these have come to nothing. "We're now juggling our 250 options - we've had offers of factory equipment from two factories," added Fleck, who is believed to have been approached by Aprilia and Honda. "It's just a matter of us coming up with a budget, we're a bit short at the moment and we need to find the money soon because the factories have to start their planning for 2000."
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