Suter chassis powered by a BMW engine - and it was nearly 6 seconds off the pace of the 800cc prototypes it shared the track with. This is a worrying sign to say the least, especially if you consider that they will be racing against the even quicker 1000cc bikes next year. Perhaps causing even more concern, however, is the plans of the Japanese manufacturers for 2012. Yamaha is expected to confirm 4 bikes, two for the factory team and two for Tech3, and their 1000cc prototype is expected to make it's debut in the Brno post race test. Suzuki, if they participate, will use their 800cc machine from this season, possibly waiting for 2013 to debut their 1000cc engine, which apparently hasn't even been designed yet.
Honda on the other hand, as already announced by HRC vice president Shuei Nakamoto, will be downsizing their presence from 6 bikes to 4. Two will be going to the factory team, with Stoner and Pedrosa doing the riding, while the other two are expected to end up in the hands of Simoncelli and Dovizioso. The latter is likely to be racing for Lucio Cecchinello's team LCR, which would mean Team Gresini could only be given equipment to support Simoncelli. Even if HRC do end up providing two additional satellite bikes, for a total of 6, they have told Gresini he is only guaranteed one machine.
This has thrown something of a wrench into the plans of Honda San Carlo Team owner Fausto Gresini: "I already had a budget ready for a two rider team next year - the Italian told newspaper Corriere dello Sport - but for the moment Honda doesn't seem willing to provide a second RC212V." But the former 125cc champion isn't without options: "I have already looked into other solutions and gotten into contact with some people. If I have no other choice, I'll use an Aprilia alongside Simoncelli's Honda."