With the majority of seats now either taken or at least penciled in, the 2011 MotoGP grid is starting to take shape. And with just 18 seats available - and the risk of fewer seats, if Suzuki field only one rider or the current Interwetten team can't find the funds to field a bike again next season - the make-up of the grid is becoming increasingly important to Dorna. There will once again be at least four Spaniards in the premier class (Jorge Lorenzo, Dani Pedrosa, Hector Barbera and Alvaro Bautista certain of a seat in 2011), and a very good chance of Toni Elias making it five. Add to that three Americans and four Italians, and diversity is far to be found on the MotoGP grid.
British rider Cal Crutchlow will help add to the range of nationalities on the grid in 2011, when he joins the Monster Tech 3 Yamaha squad for next year, but the arrival of a Brit will only compensate for the loss of a Scandinavian, with Finnish rider Mika Kallio expected to be out of a job at the end of the season, and strong rumors from Finland that the former 125 championship runner up is even considering quitting racing altogether. So it is unsurprising that fresh rumors have emerged that German rider Max Neukirchner will be heading to MotoGP next season, to ride a Ducati. For GPOne.com is reporting that Neukirchner has found sufficient sponsorship to secure a seat at the Pramac Ducati squad, replacing Mika Kallio.
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