Michael Scott | May 6, 2018
Scandal Engulfs Marc VDS MotoGP Team — Scandal erupted at Jerez, with a major implosion and accusations of million-euro lawsuits within the independent Marc VDS team. Team manager Michael Bartholemy stands accused of financial irregularity, with team owner – the brewing multi-millionaire Marc van der Straten – reportedly “very disappointed”.
Scandal Engulfs Marc VDS MotoGP Team
Bartholemy was vigorously protesting his innocence, in the face of an attack stemming from a disgruntled staff member.
Team members and riders – Alex Marquez and Joan Mir in Moto2, Franco Morbidelli and Thomas Luthi in MotoGP, as well as pit staff – were concerned for their future; while an expected deal to run Suzuki’s satellite MotoGP team next year has also been thrown into doubt.
Dorna held crisis meetings on Saturday, promising that the current agreement of team places until the end of 2021 would stand. A number of suggestions emerged for candidates to take over Bartholemy’s role, including Luthi’s crew chief, the experienced Jules Bigot, as well as the long-time team co-ordinator Marina Rossi, whose dismissal in the break between the last race in Texas and now triggered the disaster.
But some incumbents felt that the team would finish this year, and then fold.
The news was broken by German-language website Speed Week, with an exhaustive report that confirmed many of the rumors circulating in the paddock.
Marina Rossi, who is dating Moto2 rider Sam Lowes and expecting a child in September, apparently decided to exact revenge for her dismissal. With access to team accounts and documents, it is alleged she collected incriminating evidence to present to team owner Marc van der Straten, whose billionaire fortune stems from his family’s foundation of the nowadays massive Stella Artois brewing industry.
The dismayed van der Straten, according to the report, is contemplating instant dismissal of Bartholemy, as well as threatening an immediate lawsuit.
But on Sunday, the team owner issued the following statement. “To the people of the MotoGP paddock and the race fans. I have heard many rumors in the paddock this weekend about our team and I want to make the situation clear for everyone. We will continue to race competitively, as we do now, until 2021. That is my intention and that is exactly what we will do.”
Bartholemy had earlier spoken to Speed Week, protesting innocence. “I cannot influence what some people say about me. I can only assure you: I have not made a single mistake.
“I’ve spent no less than nine years of my life working hard for this team, working hard and not taking a break. We have twice become world champions in Moto2 in eight years and vice-champion three times. We have established ourselves as the strongest Moto2 team. In the MotoGP, we won a second year as a customer team a victory – with Jack Miller in Assen.”
There were other voices supporting Bartholemy, with other team managers, citing transparent and honest dealings; but at the same time, the Belgian team manager’s reputation was sullied in the past after a number of people suffered financially after the collapse of a World Supersport team.
No more Suzuki satellite team?
The turmoil in the team throws a major spanner in the works for both Suzuki and potentially also Yamaha.
Suzuki plans its first satellite team next year, while Yamaha is seeking a new partner, having lost Tech 3 to KTM.
The VDS team had been a target for both, and it had been expected that a deal with Suzuki would be announced this week. This was put on hold because Suzuki factory team chief Shinichi Sahara was unable to travel to Jerez for health reasons. Instead, confirmation was expected at Le Mans.
Now the project must be considered in doubt, and both factories back on the hunt for new partners.