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Capcom has snapped up the rights to develop MotoGP games for PlayStation formats.

Up to now Namco has handled the PS2 and PSP MotoGP games, with THQ licensing the motorbike racing series for Xbox 360 and PC.
Capcom plans to release a PlayStation 2 title, MotoGP '07, in Europe and the US this autumn, with the expectation being that PS3 and PSP titles may follow.
Speaking at its Gamers Day event in San Francisco last week, Capcom's Mark Beaumont said the project "clearly demonstrates Capcom's intent to broaden its portfolio to include both original and licensed IP, work with the best developer talent and brands from across the globe to create new exciting gaming experiences".
MotoGP consists of 18 Grand Prix, featuring bikes from all the top manufacturers and riders like Nicky Hayden and Valentino Rossi, and is not - as we learned this weekend - to be confused with the Superbike World Championship, for which Milestone is developing SBK-07: Superbike World Championship 2007 across multiple formats

MotoGP seeks quantum leap



Mike Nicks
Tuesday April 17, 2007
The Guardian


MotoGP teams will meet during the Turkish round of the championship next weekend to discuss how they can capture formula-one style sponsorship from leading multinational companies. Privately owned teams will discuss ways of improving their finances and the sport's presentation, at a time when only 19 riders will line up on the grid in a series designed for up to 24 competitors. "If you look at all the figures - TV viewers, circuit attendances, recognition of MotoGP as a brand - it's growing exponentially," said Mike Trimby, the secretary of IRTA, the organisation that represents the sport's teams. "But we are not making that transition to getting the blue-chip multinationals like formula one."
MotoGP, whose image is synonymous with the charisma and on-track heroics of the five-times champion Valentino Rossi, claims that 304 million television viewers watched each of the 17 rounds last year, and that attendance at circuits has doubled since 1996 to an average of nearly 126,000.
"We would like to see more sponsors putting in $10-15m (£5-7.5m) a year, but we have to justify that spend for them," said Chris Herring, a spokesman for the Repsol Honda team. One of the measures being considered is the creation of a separate pits area for the prestige 800cc MotoGP bikes, away from the 125cc and 250cc support classes to reduce crowding and impress major backers. "The majority of people come to watch MotoGP and not the other classes," said Chuck Aksland, manager of the British-based Team KR squad. "An exclusive area would give us a better way to present the MotoGP class."

I don't like the sound of segregating the premier class and keeping them in their own separate pit area and away from the lower classes.....it's a sort of snobery....like looking down on them. Anyhow about 97% of riders in the premier class worked their way through the lower cc ranks. I don't think it'll bring much in the way of big sponsorship deals their way but rather reduce any sponsorship for the 125 & 250cc classes instead.
Doing what is proposed here with separate pit areas for the 800cc's could well back fire on the IRTA and reduce the number of teams and riders taking part in the lower classes, possibly even causing a lot of the privater teams not to run because of no sponsors being interested in them due a stigma that will no doubt be given to and associated with 'cheap (lower) classes'.
It could even end up costing the IRTA the future of MotoGP.
It's daft thinking of going in the same direction as F1 with this sort of thing. Lets face it F1 is failing miserably compared to MotoGP......F1 are trying to get their sport viewed as a whole in the way that MotoGP is now, they've said so on numerous occasions. I mean they even tried to pinch Valentino from MotoGP to go race in F1 just to bring the much needed personality injection F1 is screaming out for ......PLEASE don't bring down MotoGP the way F1 has been dragged down!

I say - if it ain't broke, don't fix it !!!!

.... Capcom is so much better than Namco ( but they make good games too like Tekken series!).

Gi

Wasn't sure where to put this - an article from PB magazine which is mildly interesting/amusing.



Capirossi as a Fiat 600 . There were lists for other riders but I found doing this stressful enough for now.

thx 4 that!!!!

LOL oh nooooooo i want the others too, pretty please?????

Everyone is a fan of Valentino Rossi except those who didnt want to be like everyone else! lol

Kissing the camera, peeking up the brolly's skirt!!! hahahahahahahaha , that is ROSSI !!!!!!!!!!

Thanks for this super amusing ariticle!

Slave driver!

I think I got them all.