German motorcycle manufacturer MuZ, or Motorrad – und Zweiradwerk GmbH, announced its MotoGP plans to the media today in Leipzig, Germany.

MuZ displayed the rolling chassis of a four-stroke MotoGP bike with a mock-up engine that will be occupied by a 990cc, 90-degree, V4 engine that will feature pneumatic valves. The chassis shown has a tubular steel frame although MuZ team members said that an aluminum version is in the works.

MuZ officials said that they plan to begin track testing the bike within the next months and are hoping to race it in a Grand Prix during the 2002 MotoGP season.

Also introduced at the MuZ press conference were riders Jose Luis Cardoso and Ralf Waldmann. Cardoso had already been announced by the factory, but Waldmann was a surprise considering he said he had retired at the end of the 2000 Grand Prix season.

Waldmann, 34, is a veteran of 167 FIM Grand Prix race starts, but had only 12 starts on a 500cc machine while riding for Kenny Roberts’ Modenas team in 1998. Although he has never won a World Championship title, Waldmann has finished on the 250cc podium 35 times during his long career and finished second to Max Biaggi in the 1996 and 1997 FIM 250cc Grand Prix World Championships.