Canepa signs Moto2 deal with Scot Racing
Added on Thursday, November 19th, 2009 by Carole Nash Editor
Canepa signs Moto2 deal with Scot Racing
Niccolo Canepa will ride in the fledgling Moto2 series next season after agreeing a deal with Scot Racing.
Canepa, who had a solid if unspectacular rookie season with Pramac Ducati last season, lost his MotoGP ride to Aleix Espargaro for 2010 after the Spaniard impressed on a number of wildcard rides.
Despite having his season cut short by injury, Canepa was one of the more consistent riders in 2009, finishing every race that he started in other than the Indianapolis Grand Prix, when his Ducati suffered a technical fault. His best finish of eighth at Donington equalled teammate Mika Kallio’s best on the satellite Ducati, although the Finn did achieve a seventh in Misano with the factory Ducati team.
But Canepa, who graduated to Pramac from being a test rider, has stepped down to Moto2 in a move that could leave him better prepared for a stint in MotoGP in the future.
“I’m absolutely pleased with the agreement we signed,” said Canepa. “And I’m really happy about the possibility to play a creative role in a working group that has been able to show high potential and capable of great results – this season and in the past. A new class, a new bike: it will be a tough job, but with rewarding perspectives. The target is to do well.”
Scot Honda head into Moto2 with strong pedigree in the smaller classes, having won the last ever 250 championship with Hiroshi Aoyama, and believe that they have the right rider for the new series.
“We are delighted to have Niccolò with us,” claimed team owner Cirano Mularoni. “We asked him to join Scot Racing Team because he’s fast, competitive and, although still very young, already a very experienced rider.He competed in MotoGP this year, and in the same class he was test rider the previous season.
“In our opinion, he’s the right man for a brand new class and a team like ours – we designed our own bike and we are going to develop it day by day, race by race. We are convinced to be able to do a great job together,” he added.
