The FB Corse team have announced that they have signed John Hopkins to ride for them in the 2010 debut season in MotoGP.
The team had admitted that they were interested in signing Hopkins back in the summer before it was rumoured that he would be going to the AMA series for 2010, but they have now confirmed that the deal has been done.
The team have also announced that they have signed Simone Gorztkyj for their Moto2 project, where he will ride as a wild-card at five of the championship rounds.
The official team announcement and presentation for the 2010 series is expected to take place in Milan on the 21st January.
Alex de Angelis is moving into the Moto2 series for 2010 after signing a one-year contract for the Team Scot racing squad for the coming season.
The San Marino based team announced last month that they would not be competing in the MotoGP series from 2010 before announcing that they had signed Niccoló Canepa, who will be partnering De Angelis in the season ahead.
The San Marinese rider, who’s new team is only 500 metres away from his own front door, made a point of explaining why he had only signed with the outfit for one year, with the option for a second year;
“The contract is only for one year because the aim is to return to MotoGP as soon as possible.”
It had been rumoured that Toni Elias would be taking the second seat with the Honda team but he is now expected to sign with the Sito Pons team for 2010.
Starting today the Moto2 teams are at the Ricardo Tormo Circuit in Valencia, Spain, taking part in a two-day test session along with the World Superbike and World Supersport riders.
The Pons Kalex Team will have Axel Pons and Sergio Gadea aboard their machines following their recent visit to Germany where they have been developing the 2010 model.
The Monster Tech3 crew will have just one of their 2010 riders on track today, Raffaele de Rosa, who will be experiencing the bike for the first time.
The new Italtrans STR team will have their riders Roberto Rolfo and Robertini Pietri aboard putting the SutarRacing prototype through it’s paces.
Mike de Meglio and Julián Simón will once again be riding the BQR bike which they borrowd for testing in early November to get a taste of the 600cc machine with rumours that they may even get to try out the Pons Kalex prototype on Thursday.
Uncertainty continues over the Aprilia Moto2 project, but it has been confirmed that the team will not be present at the two-day test session it is again rumoured that the senior management have had a change of heart. If the bike does ever make it onto the track for the 2010 season still remains to be seen although it is looking more and more unlikely.
Another new Moto2 team are to line-up on the grid for the 2010 season ‘Italtrans STR‘, with riders Roberto Rolfo and Robertino Pietri on board.
The new Italian team are in partnership with STR (Sprint Technology Racing), and is to be led by Luigi Pansera and Massimo Biagini.
Roberto Rolfo is no stranger to the superbike league having finished runner-up in the 2003 250cc World Championship and also in the MotoGP series. The 29-year-old moved to the Superbike series in 2006 for the Caracchi Ducati team finishing the year in sixteenth overall.
In 2007, Rolfo moved to the Hanspree Ten Kate Honda team alongside James Toseland, finishing the season in eighth overall while his team-mate won the championship. In 2008 he moved to the Althea Honda squad where he was axed for the 2009 season.
For the start of 2009, he joined the new team on the World Superbike grid with Stiggy Honda team, riding alongside Leon Haslam but was replaced after the Qatar round by John Hopkins.
Rolfo said;
“I am very happy to be back into the Motorcycle World Championship, and it’s even more satisfying to do it in Moto2. This was my objective and now I’m very motivated because I’m back in the game and I aim to secure results. I cannot wait to begin the tests. There will be a lot to do because motorbikes in this category will continually evolve. I’m not afraid of the challenge, I look forward to it.”
Robertino Pietri said;
“This is a great opportunity for me. I’d like to thank Massimo Biagini and the whole STR team, and my fellow countrymen Vito Ippolito and Carlos Lavado. I’m happy and excited by this opportunity and I’m confident that the team will succeed. I’ll be 100% ready to have a great season in the Motorcycle World Championship.”
