Forward Racing to miss Indianapolis MotoGP, hopes to be back for Brno.

Fallout from the arrest of team owner Giovanni Cuzari means Forward Racing will be forced to miss the Indianapolis MotoGP.

Cuzari's investigation by Swiss police over alleged tax evasion and other financial impropriety, which began after the recent German round, has resulted in the team's funding effectively being cut off.

'Unfortunately, the reaction of the sponsors, the main source of income of an independent team, was immediate and resolute,' said a team statement. 'Inevitably some of them cancelled the existing contracts and interrupted payments, creating further financial troubles that could jeopardise completely the survival of the Team.

'The activity of these last days was therefore focused on rebuilding sponsor relationships, the Team was able to reach a consensus to regain some vital economic aid to cover the costs of the upcoming races. New processes of collection and payment were activated, the economic admin was rebuilt and new operational modalities were agreed with the Public Prosecutor of Lugano (Procura di Lugano).'

Nevertheless, the Forward MotoGP and Moto2 teams will both be absent from Indianapolis on August 7-9, while efforts continue to re-join the championship one week later in Brno.

'The concrete possibility to start again and the hope to protect the interests of our riders, engineers, contractors and suppliers, led us to agree with IRTA, the International Racing Teams Association, not to deploy our riders at the start of the Red Bull Indianapolis Grand Prix on August 9th, in order to gather all the resources and to better organise the upcoming trips.

'This painful decision was necessary in order to try to ensure our participation to the World Championship until the end of the season.'

Forward Racing managing director Marco Curioni stated: “It was a very difficult week for the Forward Racing. Only in the last hours we have glimpsed the real possibility of overcome this situation. I hope to have Giovanni - who until proven to the contrary he is correct to assume innocent - soon with us and available to find a solution.

“In this dark moment, several 'partners' and 'friends' have understandably distanced [themselves] from the team and then for this reason I want to thank those who are helping us: Dorna and IRTA gave us full support from the beginning, all members of the team that gave their unconditional support and those sponsors and new companies - that despite the objective concerns - gave us confidence and are interpreting the meaning of sponsorship in the original reason: financial aid to allow the athlete to realise his talent".

Stefan Bradl was hoping to make his comeback from a fractured wrist at Indy. Given the uncertainty at Forward, the German's name is being linked with the ex-Marco Melandri seat at Aprilia.

Rookie team-mate Loris Baz finished the first half of the season an impressive second in the Open class, just five points from Hector Barbera. Lorenzo Baldassarri and Simone Corsi are currently 12th and 14th on Kalex equipment in Moto2.

Title sponsor Athina is rumoured to be among the brands that have left Forward.

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#22 said:

Thanks for that Mig's, I can see him ending up at Aprilia for at least the rest of this yr.

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As Forward Racing's future in MotoGP remains unclear, the way could be cleared for Aprilia to make a swoop for Stefan Bradl.

Forward Racing says it is still keen to retain agreements with its MotoGP and Moto2 riders despite its uncertain future following the arrest of its owner and subsequent withdrawal from the Indianapolis Grand Prix.

In the wake of Giovanni Cuzari's arrest in Switzerland, Forward Racing will not travel to the United States for the next round of the MotoGP World Championship, with its immediate plans beyond also unclear.

Though team manager Marco Curioni is confident the team will be back in action for the next round in Brno less than a week later, with sponsors reportedly backing away, it is considered the riders may well follow suit.

Of particular interest is Bradl, who was supposed to return to MotoGP action at Indianapolis following a hand injury, as he is considered a prime candidate for a potential swoop by Aprilia to fill its currently vacant second seat alongside Alvaro Bautista.

Though he has endured a difficult first-half of the season on the Forward Yamaha having been dropped by LCR Honda after three years, the former Moto2 champion is still considered a valuable asset for Dorna as the only German in MotoGP.

A spokesperson from Forward Racing was unable to shed any further light, other than to say 'in this difficult situation for the team we are open to find an agreement with the riders, but at the moment nothing is official'. However, Curioni has told GPOne.com that a potential deal with a rival team could prove mutually beneficial.

“Should there be such an eventuality, we will seek an agreement with the riders. This would also enable the team also save some money.”

It is also unclear what would happen to Bradl's team-mate Loris Baz, as well as its Moto2 riders Simone Corsi and Lorenzo Baldassari.

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Forward Racing has officially confirmed that it will return to the MotoGP grid next weekend in Brno.

The team has been forced to miss this weekend's Indianapolis round due to financial reasons, following the arrest of team boss Giovanni Cuzari over tax related issues.

Stefan Bradl has left the team to join Aprilia and will be replaced by Claudio Corti, who stood in for the injured German at Sachsenring.

“We are pleased to announce that Forward Racing will get back on track from the Brno Grand Prix scheduled on August 16th on the Czech circuit,” said a team statement.

“Following the arrest and the charges against Giovanni Cuzari, director and owner of Forward Racing, we agreed with IRTA - International Racing Teams Association - not to deploy our riders at the start of the Red Bull Indianapolis Grand Prix on August 9th, in order to gather all the resources and to better organize the upcoming trips. This painful decision was necessary in order to try to ensure our participation to the World Championship until the end of the season.

“Thanks to DORNA and IRTA and some partners and sponsors, who despite the objective concerns, they continued to support us – today we are proud to announce that we will get back on track, in both categories, from the bwin Grand Prix České republiky.

“In MotoGP Loris Baz will ride the Yamaha Forward alongside his new teammate Claudio Corti, who will replace Stefan Bradl. For the Italian rider this is a return in the premier class of motorcycle racing, after the Sachsenring race in July, where he replaced the injured Stefan Bradl. Corti has already been with Forward in 2010 in Moto2 riding a Suter bike and in 2013 in MotoGP with Colin Edwards riding a FTR-Kawasaki.

“In Moto2 we are proud to confirm the Italian duo composed by Simone Corsi and Lorenzo Baldassarri on Kalex.”

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