WSBK: EBR leaves, Canepa and Ponsson remain in the race

Declared bankrupt in mid-April, manufacturer Erik Buell racing (EBR) announces its withdrawal from the World Superbike. Its top driver Niccolo Canepa joins Kawasaki Grillini this weekend at Imola … and Christophe Ponsson bounces back at Pedercini. Phew !

Like Bimota last year (read), Erik Buell Racing is forced to leave the WSBK during the season. Except that for the small American manufacturer, the abandonment is not a "small" concern of homologation of machine but a problem of big money…

It is indeed following and the redefinition of the priorities of its title sponsor – and – Hero that the team withdraws from the Superbike world championship. At the end of last week, the team manager and driver Larry Pegram expressed his dismay…

"It’s a really hard pill for all of us at Pegram Racing to swallow because our philosophy has always been to never give up", declared the n ° 72."The whole team did a fantastic job improving last year’s results and making EBR and Hero proud".

Author of the first two points scored by EBR in World Superbike during his freelance in, Larry had managed to repeat his feat this year (). His teammate had the same number of points thanks to his two fifteenth places at then .

"Niccolò Canepa rode like the champion he is and he surprised a lot of people by showing what he was capable of with our bike. I’m proud of the work he did", would like to underline his former boss before warning:"one thing is for sure, Pegram Racing will be back and sooner than you think"…

Niccolo, for his part, wasted no time: the n ° 59 has already found a new handlebar and will take part in the fifth round of the WSBK 2015 from this weekend in Imola (Superpole, SBK and SSP races to follow in almost direct on Site as always: see our).

The news has indeed just fallen: Niccolo Canepa is joining the Kawasaki Grillini team for the rest of the season! "I am happy to benefit from this opportunity which appeared at the last minute", naturally declares the Italian pilot.

"After everything that has happened recently, I can’t wait to play the rest of the season with Team Grillini", rejoices Niccolo before warning that"it won’t be easy because I have never driven the ZX-10R and I still have to meet the team".

Expert in Twin 1200 cc – whether they come from Borgo Panigale or East Troy – Canepa assures us that it will do its best with the 1000 cc 4-cylinder "made in Akashi" in Imola "and on all other circuits". He finally wants to"really thank Andrea Grillini for giving me this chance to stay in the category".

The former member of the Grillini team, the French, also remains in the race, still in command of a Ninja but now prepared by the Pedercini team. Contacted by Site, the foal of Fabien Foret has so far preferred to remain silent on the causes of his change of team…

In any case, we can bet that the consequences of Christophe’s surprise transfer announced a few days earlier will be beneficial … During this announcement precisely, our compatriot regretted that his relations with the Grillini team had never been simple.

"I will be in better conditions and surrounded by a motivated and experienced team to fulfill my objectives as well as possible", estimates the youngest pilot of the field."My goal remains more or less the same. I have to improve and learn every weekend for the rest of the seasonTo be continued on Site: stay connected !

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