WSBK – WorldSBK 2018: Gabriele Ruiu, the very young rookie of Suzuki Grillini – Used SUZUKI

WorldSBK 2018: Gabriele Ruiu, the very young rookie of Suzuki Grillini

WSBK - WorldSBK 2018: Gabriele Ruiu, the very young rookie of Suzuki Grillini - Used SUZUKI

The Suzuki Grillini team has just announced the name of the teammate of the experienced Roberto Rolfo: it is a certain Gabriele Ruiu, very young hopeful of Italian motorcycle speed… A little too young, even, to compete in the start of the WSBK 2018 season! Explanations.

We now know the identity of the rider who will be (38 years old on March 23) next year in World Superbike! He is another Italian pilot, much younger than "Roby" and therefore much less experienced….

As in 2015, the boss Andrea Grillini is betting on the future: his new recruit is, hired at just 19 years old by the same transalpine team to compete in the World Superbike Championship on Kawasaki Ninja ZX-10R !

WSBK - WorldSBK 2018: Gabriele Ruiu, the very young rookie of Suzuki Grillini - Used SUZUKI

Born on May 16, 2000 (and not 1980 as his Facebook page indicates, what a little feinter!), Gabriele Ruiu will not be able to compete in the first five rounds: as a reminder, World Superbike riders must be aged 18 years old to be able to join the track…

The potential – and hoped for – succession of Biaggi and Giugliano in WorldSBK – Ruiu is from Rome, like them – will therefore miss "his" test at Imola from May 11 to 13 … But he will launch into the competition two weeks later at Donington Park and will be able to participate in the second Italian meeting scheduled for July 6 to 8 in Misano.

You can when you are of age…

Unknown to the general public – even biker -, the little guy raced in the Spanish Moto2 Championship in 2015 and 2016. During his second season – his first complete -, the young Roman scored 46 points at the controls of his Tech3 Mistral, thus taking 13th place in the prestigious CEV.

In 2017 and despite his very young age, "Gabry" rose to 1000 cc! At the end of July, he took a remarkable 10th place at the helm of a GSX-R1000 in an Italian Superbike. Two months later, he continued with a 3rd place then a victory in the Italian Cup over R1.

WSBK - WorldSBK 2018: Gabriele Ruiu, the very young rookie of Suzuki Grillini - Used SUZUKI

Also on Yamaha, the n ° 16 (or 61, according to the provisions) disputed three races in European Superstock 1000. The higher level and lack of knowledge of the circuits did not allow him to get into the points. Will he succeed in World Superbike? Mystery and Pirelli Balls…

"Under the minimum age imposed by the regulations, the Italian (…) will however accompany the team during the first five meetings in order to understand the way of working while forging links with each member", warns the team which will soon unveil the name of the pilot in charge of the interim…

Statements

Gabriele Ruiu
"I would like to thank Andrea Grillini for believing in my talent. It is a great opportunity, but also an important responsibility to join WorldSBK. So I have to prepare for the season with the utmost dedication of determination to do my best. ".

Andrea Grillini, team manager
"I met Gabriele not long ago. He is very young and, in addition to his excellent talent, he wants to be successful. It will be a fantastic experience for him and the whole team will strive to lead him to his first race. in the best conditions. Gabriele has already ridden on the Suzuki GSX-R1000 in the Superstock 1000 and Superbike category in the Italian Championship. He has good results and that will help him gain confidence on the bike. Rules do not allow him to compete in the first rounds due to his age. But he will train and accompany the team to Donington Park ".

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