The PrüstelGP crew, hailing from Saxony, stuns the motorcycle racing community by withdrawing from the Motorcycle World Championship, marking the end of their Moto3 journey in Valencia, Spain. Team manager Florian Prüstel shared his feelings about this tough decision, acknowledging the significant time, passion, and commitment they've poured into the team since they took over the former Racing Team Germany in 2016.
The team tasted immediate success when John McPhee, 29, stormed to victory at the Grand Prix in Brno, Czech Republic. Saxony's most prosperous period was in 2018, with Marco Bezzecchi, an Italian talented protege of MotoGP legend Valentino Rossi, 44, seizing three race victories and a third-place finish in the World Championship.
Despite their achievements, the team faced a tragic turn with the unfortunate accident and subsequent death of Jason Dupasquier, a Prüstel rider, during the qualifying stage of the 2021 Italian Grand Prix in Mugello. The team fondly remembers Dupasquier as a radiant symbol of positivity.
Transitioning into potential reasons behind the team's departure, speculation points towards Prüstel's attempt to establish a works team through a collaboration with Chinese manufacturer CFMoto. Despite high expectations, the alliance failed to yield the desired success, a possibility which may have contributed to the team's decision.
German racing enthusiasts are now left with Intact GP as the sole representative of the country in the World Championship, with Lukas Tulovic, a Moto2 rider from Eberbach, failing to secure a new contract. The aftermath of Prüstel's withdrawal has spawned a wave of disappointment, sadness, curiosity, and apprehension among fans across various regions, including Chemnitz, Leipzig, and Dresden.
