WSBK – WSBK 2015: Ducati Althea hires Terol and Baiocco – Used DUCATI

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WSBK 2015: Ducati Althea hires Terol and Baiocco

WSBK - WSBK 2015: Ducati Althea hires Terol and Baiocco - Used DUCATI

Second in the Evo World Superbike 2014 ranking, Niccolo Canepa will not be re-entered into the Ducati Althea team next season. The Italian team will however gain momentum, lining up two motorcycles entrusted to Nicolas Terol and Matteo Baiocco.

The 2014 World Superbike season is drawing to a close – the last event takes place this weekend in Doha, at night! – and many teams are already thinking about the next one. This is the case of the Ducati Althea team which has just announced its composition for 2015.

The Italian team sees things – twice as big – for next year as it will separate at the end of this last Qatari racing weekend from its only driver Niccolo Canepa and will engage two new recruits…

The n ° 59 is therefore preparing to deliver its last two battles at the controls of the 1199 Panigale R prepared by the men of Genesio Bevilacqua: "in terms of points, we are very far from the leader of the category but also very far from third", observes Canepa.

Niccolo is actually 30 points behind the official Kawasaki rider David Salom and 20 points in front of another Ninja, private and French this one: Jeremy Guarnoni. "So I have nothing to lose and I will do my best to bring back two good results", estimates the pilot tattooed with the hot iron of Bologna !

The Italian has nothing to lose in the championship because barring a miracle or huge blunder, he should keep his second place in the subcategory. Engaged to win the Evo title, Niccolo has however already lost his handlebars.

New beginnings

According to Genesio Bevilacqua, the 2015 season must be one of renewal for his team: with Carlos Checa, the Althea team – and his Ducati 1198 – has been "restrained" … Preferring the RSV4 to the 1199 Panigale and keeping Davide Giugliano as single pilot, the Italians experienced a too inconstant.

As we have just seen, the reunion with Ducati and the hiring of Canepa in 2013 (Giugliano having left for the Ducati factory team, read) did not meet with the expected success. To join the forefront of the discipline – which will no longer be truncated between the SBK and the Evo, phew! -, "the team decided to use two experienced pilots", announces the Italian big boss.

"Nico Terol is a very talented driver and we believe that a team like ours can help him achieve the success he deserves."Says Signore Bevilacqua, even estimating that the 26-year-old pilot"was not appreciated at its fair value".

Winner in 2011 of the last motorcycle speed world championship contested on 125 cc 2-stroke, Nicolas logically switched to Moto2 the following season, finishing in an anonymous 17th place. Seventh in 2012 thanks to three victories, a 2nd place and three other Top 6, the n ° 18 was to confirm this season. Instead, the Aspar rider scored just two unfortunate points at the Argentine GP…

"Nico Terol is a great person and an excellent pilot", analyzed this summer his future-ex team manager Jorge Martinez for the official site motogp.com."He has lost confidence in his front end but he is someone I admire for his professional ethics". Her career will continue in WSBK !

"I am lucky to access a championship like the Superbike that I have always followed closely", testifies the 26-year-old pilot from Alicante, all the more satisfied that he integrates"a very experienced team who know how to win. It’s great to debut on a motorcycle like the Ducati".

A GP 125 champion and an SBK champion from Italy

Titled three years ago on an Aprilia Grand Prix, Nico has "worked with Gigi Dall’Igna who is now part of Ducati’s senior management: he is a person who has always respected me"… and who, when the time comes, can give him a little help ?

Unlike Giugliano in 2013 and Canepa in 2014, the ex-Grand Prix star – who could be emulated by Alex de Angelis … – will not be alone in the box. The Althea team will ride alongside Nico Terol another great hope of Italian motorcycle speed: Matteo Baiocco !

"Matteo is a pilot that I know well", specifies his future boss,"he is very experienced and knows the bike better than anyone (for having driven it all year as a development pilot, editor’s note!), I am therefore certain that this year could be fundamental for his career".

Winner in 2003 of the European Supersport 600 Championship on Yamaha R6 and Italian champion in 2011 and 2012 on Ducati 1098, "Baiox" had already ridden in World Superbike in 2009 and 2010 on Kawasaki ZX-10R but had not won as the best result that a 10th place, in Portimao the first year.

"Becoming a member of a team of this rank is an opportunity for me to put into practice all my experience acquired in recent years in national championships (Italian, but also British, Editor’s note) and during the development of the Panigale SBK with Ducati", rejoices the thirty-something.

"I feel ready to take on this challenge and believe this opportunity comes at the right time for me", guarantees Matteo di Osimo (Province of Ancôme)."I can’t wait to start working on my new team to find the right chemistry and be competitive at the start of the new season. ", to follow on Site of course! Stay connected.

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