Music meets MotoGP: Ludacris joins WCM!

Hip-hop giant Ludacris, the multi platinum artist and star of 2Fast 2Furious and the soon to be released Hustle & Flow films, has expanded his empire by moving his DTP label into MotoGP - through backing of the Blata-WCM Team.

The DTP label includes Ludacris and other artists such as I-20, Shawnna, Lil' Fate, Tity Boi and Jay Cee - who will become trackside regulars at MotoGP this season.

"It is a huge thing for our team and the sport," said Pavel Blata on the deal. "It adds a very important new dimension to what we are doing. Our entry into MotoGP is a vital step in us becoming a major motorcycle manufacturer and the potential that this partnership with Ludacris and DTP offers is another very valuable step in the same direction."

Blata, based in the Czech Republic, is a renowned producer of pocket bikes, but is expanding into production of full size motorcycles and has joined World Championship Motorsports (WCM) to create the new for 2005 Blata-WCM MotoGP team.

They will contest this year's MotoGP World Championship on the 990cc Blata V6 prototype, with riders James Ellison (GBR) and Franco Battaini (ITA).

"It is great for all of us and adds another stellar dimension to our sport," said Peter Clifford, WCM's director of racing. "The addition of the enthusiasm that Ludacris and DTP bring to the project is hugely valuable. We have a tremendously exciting sport that has huge world wide appeal and we are committed to getting to the top, it is going to be a thrilling ride."

"We are proud to be involved in bringing the two together," added a spokesman for Shoutingdog Sports PR and Marketing. "It is important to back the smaller teams as they try to compete against the major factories.

"Smaller teams do this not by copying technology but by trying to revolutionise what they can to get a competitive edge. The V6 project is a unique and remarkable challenge that in time could pay off.

"We know there's a big challenge ahead, but we are confident that the 2005 season will be positive in making the breakthroughs they need to race at the highest level and get some results down the line.

"When they arrive in the paddock things are going to change, it will be fun! The music industry already has a strong racing sub-culture so I think this will be a huge success all round, along with our US partner, Elusive Inc, we have broken new ground in the MotoGP world by bringing both Entertainment and Motorsport together."

The opening round of the 2005 MotoGP World Championship will take place on April 10th, with the Spanish Grand Prix at Jerez.

For more information on Ludacris visit www.ludacris.net.