The Spanish team held an event in Jerez in which its rider line-up for the MotoGP™, Moto2™ and Moto3™ classes was officially unveiled.
Following the conclusion of the Moto2™ and Moto3™ Test at the Jerez circuit on Wednesday – and prior to the commencement of the MotoGP™ Test on Thursday at the same track – Avintia Racing showed off its ambitious 2012 project, presenting the riders and machines which will compete across all three World Championship categories.
As well as MotoGP™ riders Iván Silva and Yonny Hernández, Moto2™ entry Julián Simón and Moto3™ rider Maverick Viñales, a number of team and sponsor representatives were also present.
Raúl Romero, Avintia Racing co-owner and MotoGP™ Team Manager, was delighted to be able to unveil an exciting line-up for 2012, and said: “We've grown into a new team which now has all the experience of BQR and the managerial vision which Avintia will bring. Along with the support of Blusens and our other supporters, we've been able to put together a project that would otherwise never have been possible. I'm thrilled to be able to present the Avintia Racing team here today, and to be able to say that we'll be competing in all three classes. In Moto2™ and Moto3™ we can finish in the podium positions regularly, and to be in MotoGP™ is a dream come true.”
Talking about the CRT project, he added: “Our technical team and mechanics have developed a bike which we expect will be very competitive amongst the CRT entries, and with which we will work hard to show that Avintia Racing is in MotoGP™ to stay. We have great confidence in the whole team and of course in our riders. Iván Silva is an experienced rider and Yonny comes up from Moto2™ with a lot of motivation to learn. I genuinely believe we will be able to enjoy a great season.”
Ricard Jové (Team Manager for the Moto2™ and Moto3™ projects) commented on the prospects of Simón and Viñales, and added: “We have great bikes, a strong technical team and of course fantastic riders. It's super to have Julián Simón in our Moto2™ team, he's a World Champion and is eager to repeat that achievement. In Moto3™ we have the hugely talented Maverick Viñales, who will undoubtedly be one of the favourites in the category. I do however want to stress that we need to remain calm and patient.”
The riders themselves were clearly more than ready to start the season. Hernández spoke about his “dream” move up to the MotoGP™ category, and said the pre-season had gone well, whilst Silva said that he hoped to exploit his previous experience of riding similarly powerful machinery.
Simón said he felt “strong” and that he is “sure we will have a great year”, whilst Viñales commented on his satisfaction at having the same team around him as he did in his rookie year in 2011.
source: MotoGP Official
