Roberts confirm second bike for Mugello

Team Roberts have confirmed to autosport.com that they will run two bikes in this weekend's Italian MotoGP at Mugello, with regular rider Kenny Roberts Jr joined by his younger brother Kurtis

The team hope that by expanding to a second bike they will gain more data and regain ground on the frontrunners.

The expansion was rumoured following the Le Mans race, but was not a certainty until given the green light by Honda bosses.

Kenny Roberts Jr has always said he has been hamstrung by being the sole rider able to run parts in, test, choose tyres, qualify and race the KR bike. This problem does not affect the other singleton Honda teams as only KR use a unique self-designed chassis.

"We are looking for two bikes so that we can gain more data," team manager Chuck Aksland told autosport.com last week.

"The motor is what it is (Honda) so we should be battling up there with the other ones.

"Tyres are a big equation, we need Kenny Junior to test them, but for many other things, Kurtis can really help."

Roberts Jr and the team are currently at the bottom of the riders' and constructors' championships, having not finished above 13th so far this season.