WSBK – The 2015 World Superbike grid is full – … a Spaniard, an American and two Italians

The 2015 World Superbike grid fills up

WSBK - The 2015 World Superbike grid is full - ... a Spaniard, an American and two Italians

Barrier confirmed at BMW Italia, Ponsson hired by Kawasaki Grillini, Salom back at Kawasaki Pedercini, Pegram and Canepa recruited by EBR Hero, Badovini by BMW JR Racing: the WSBK 2015 grid is gradually filling up. MNC takes stock.

… a Spaniard, an American and two Italians

First and last Superbike Evo champion (!), David Salom will continue his track route at Kawasaki in 2015 by reintegrating the Pedercini team which will acquire the "official" title of satellite team, a first for the Akashi Greens.

"We are very happy with this opportunity", says Lucio Pedercini, the team manager."I would like to thank Kawasaki for the bond we have created to make this project possible and all the people who have worked for Team Pedercini and who have helped us achieve such a prestigious goal.".

Salom, Kawasaki pilot in orbit

The Italian team, which had Andreozzi (19th in the championship) and Fabien Foret (20th) but also Lanusse, Russo and Cudlin (Alex) run in 2014, hopes to raise its level of play: "I’m sure we’ll be very competitive next season with the Ninja ZX-10R and the Evo champion, David Salom, who had already ridden with us in and and whom we are delighted to find, testifies Signore Pedercini.

The Spanish driver is also counting on the support of the factory to improve his results: 36th in the 2009 WSBK with 5 small points and 21st in 2012 with 22 points, David has already taken an important step this year by regularly finishing in the Top 10th in the race, taking 12th place in the two-speed championship in the final…

"I am delighted to be back in Team Pedercini", says # 44."This time it will be different because I will be riding an official bike, I am a rider for Kawasaki Motors Europe and some people who worked with me last year will help me again in 2015".

"We have an ambitious team, determined to achieve good results", warns the pilot of Palma de Mallorca."The Pedercini team has demonstrated its total commitment to this project and for them it will be a kind of return to zero, with a lot of changes"The pre-season tests are therefore expected to be busy … and promising ?!

For his part, the pilot-engineer-director-sweet-dreamer-even-not-fear was pleased to announce that he will again field two EBR 1190RX in the 2015 World Superbike. After a hard first year of hard work, the Americans – – are more than ever in the race !

"We are very happy to participate in the 2015 Superbike World Championship"Says the big boss."2014 was a learning year for us and we would like to thank all the 2014 team members for their workFirst, the pilots Aaron Yates and Geoff May returning to the USA (read)…

Pegram and Canepa, the new EBR duo

"In a competition of such a high level, everything must work to be successful and we believe we have found the right combination to progress."Says Mister Buell. Thus Larry Pegram, who offered his first two points to EBR – a first in world Superbike for an American brand! – during his freelance at Laguna Seca"will drive but will also be a team manager"announces Erik Buell.

"Based on what we’ve done with him in the US, including a wildcard in WSBK, we think Larry will be a strong link between the factory and the paddock. He knows how to stay calm in stressful situations and that’s what we need", considers the CEO of EBR.

Sixth in the 2013 AMA SBK on Yamaha, hero of his own reality TV show "Superbike Family" (the third season of which can be viewed on), Larry spent last year on EBR 1190 RS and was rewarded at the very end of the season by a podium climbed in the rain.

The 41-year-old Ohio pilot – Biaggi’s age when he was last crowned! -, intends to guide the East Troy (Wisconsin) brand on the road to success. According to him, the potential of the bike is very present: "I am convinced that EBR and Pegram Racing can play a major role together for EBR’s World Superbike programTo follow closely in "Superbike Family" season 4 … and on MNC !

Also recruited this year by EBR Hero, Niccolo Canepa "combines years of experience having raced in the FIM Superstock 1000 Cup (2007 champion and 2013 vice-champion), in World Superbike (2nd in Evo in 2014) as well as in MotoGP, and was also a development in MotoGP", recalls his new employer.

The Italian rider, second in the Evo championship on the unique Ducati Althea this year, is rightly delighted to put on the double costume of rider-developer: "I am delighted to join the Hero EBR team to race in the Superbike World Championship in 2015. It is the perfect opportunity for me to combine development and racing".

"I was on the track with the EBRs in 2014 and it was very exciting to see an American motorcycle in our championship", continues the n ° 59 from Genoa."At the end of the year, the 1190RX was pretty quick. They had progressed a lot since mid-season and it showed! I look forward to contributing to the next step in their progression". Top 10 objective for the end of the season ?

Finally, another Italian driver titled in Superstock 1000 (2010) has won the favor of a completely different team … from the Dominican Republic! Ayrton Badovini thus joins the BMW JR Racing team alongside Toni Elias, who started a month ago (read).

Winner of the STK1000 cup on a then brand new S1000RR, Ayrton has since constantly ridden in the "queen" Superbike category: on BMW still in 2011 and 2012, on the new 1199 Panigale in 2013 and on the Bimota BB3 … S1000RR !

Badovini on a BMW, full formula

"It is the paddock pilot who has the most experience with the German brand", thus observes his new team which perfectly perceived the real talent of the n ° 86. Indeed, its Bimota not having been able to be approved in due form, Badovini could not register a single point in 2014 despite several victories in Evo, and was even forced to give up during the season when he could have fought for the "title" of the category.

Persistent, the "stealthy" pilot – in the 2014 rankings, but not fictitious on the track! – do not feel sorry for himself and go ahead: "I think the BMW S 1000 RR is one of the best motorcycles for the new regulation", already analyzes Ayrton."I remember the original and imagine the new one can only get better".

"Having Troy Corser on the team will help us progress and develop as a driver.", he also emphasizes."I’m very happy to be a part of this new project and can’t wait to start"… And we are impatient to observe: stay tuned !

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