Group behind Ebbw Vale motorsport centre buy big racing name (From South Wales Argus)

Group behind Ebbw Vale motorsport centre buy big racing name

7:43pm Monday 1st October 2012 in News

THE group behind the proposed £250 million Circuit for Wales motorsport centre have taken over one of the world’s leading Grand Prix motorcycle manufacturers, with the potential to create even more jobs at the Ebbw Vale site.

The Heads of the Valleys Development Company has acquired the Buckingham-based FTR Moto, who design racing chassis for top MotoGP teams San Carlo Honda Gresini and Avintia Blusens, with a long-term ambition of bringing the company to the proposed Rassau site, which goes before a meeting of Blaenau Gwent’s planning committee later this month.

The 830 acre development would boast a 3.5 mile world class race track capable of hosting MotoGP, World Superbikes, World Motorcrross and Touring cars.

Plans also include an international kart track and motorcross track, along with a racing academy to develop elite riders and drivers.

The initial plans were said to potentially create 9,000 jobs in the region, and is expected to boost the Welsh economy by £50 million a year in tourism and business development.

Now the take-over looks set to bring more jobs, with the Head of the Valleys Development Company keen to stress their hope to take on a number of young apprentices at the plant.

The new organisation will now include one of the directors of the Heads of the Valleys Development Company, Chris Herring.

Herring, a former HRC Honda Racing Manager, said of the venture: "The new partnership with FTR Moto represents a significant move for Circuit of Wales.

"It’s a highly successful British engineering firm, which is synonymous with high performance motor sport. We’re already receiving positive enquiries from various factions of the motor sport world for FTR Moto’s services."

The Circuit of Wales represents the biggest investment in the UK automotive industry in 50 years, and last week saw the end of the first phase of consultations between the Heads of the Valleys Development Company and the communities surrounding the Rassau area.

Gresini racing and Avintia Blusens boast riders including Italian Michele Pirro and Colombian Yonny Hernandez, who have already racked up more than 50 world championship points in Moto GP between them this season.