John Surtees 125GP team confirms name change

The Chinese backed 125GP team headed by MotoGP and Formula One legend John Surtees has confirmed it will change its name for the 2009 world championship campaign.

Having initially planned to race as the Maxtra team, the team will now be known as Haojue.

Since the launch of the team during last year’s Shanghai GP in China, a number of issues came to light over the international use of the Maxtra name and the company decided to revert to its original plan to run under the Team Haojue name.

Haojue sold over 2.95 million machines in 2008.

“The issue with the name change made it necessary for us to close the Team Maxtra website, but we now have a basic Team Haojue site at www.haojue-racing.com,” explained Team Haojue director Garry Taylor.

“The on-going development programme is continuing as planned, with Jan Witteveen testing and developing a variety of new engine components and Harris Performance progressing with chassis and bodywork refinements.

“As we said right from the launch in China last year, we don’t expect to be on podium pace in year one, but Haojue is one hundred percent behind the project and we are determined to make progress and aim to challenge for podium finishes in 2010,” he added.

Team Haojue will make its public debut at the IRTA test in Jerez next week, starting on Wednesday, March 25.