Aspar signs Eugene Laverty for 2015 MotoGP Championship
Spanish team confirm Laverty to partner Nicky Hayden next year
Eugene Laverty
Daniel James Smith
The latest news from MotoGP sees the Drive M7 Aspar Team making the announcement that current World Superbike rider Eugene Laverty will join the premier road racing world championship in 2015 when he will partner Nicky Hayden on the latest Honda production racer.
He is a rider we have been interested in for a long time. I think he is a rider with great potential.
Jorge Martínez
Following months of negotiations on Laverty’s part and an apparent last minute switch from the Aspar team on it’s preferred choice of rider, the team made an offer to Laverty despite already having an agreement with French World Superbike rider Loris Baz who, it is believed, lost the ride due to his height of 6ft 3in.
The current World Superbike rider began his international career in Grand Prix, competing in the 250cc category in 2007 and 2008, and has always made it clear his goal of entering MotoGP. Entering the eni FIM World Superbike Championship six years ago, first riding in World Supersport and then riding for Aprilia and then Voltcom Crescent Suzuki team in World Superbikes, Laverty boasts a total of 33 podiums in the class.
He has finished as runner-up twice in WSBK first in World Supersport (2009 and 2010) and was also runner-up in World Superbikes in 2013. The 28-year-old Toomebridge, Northern Ireland has ridden a host of different machinery for various manufacturers and winning races for all of them. The DRIVE M7 Aspar Team has described Laverty as ‘a gifted rider with the potential to continue improving.’
Aspar confident Laverty ready to step up to MotoGP
Speaking about the signing Jorge Martínez, ‘Aspar’ revealed that he had already tried to strike a deal with Laverty. He said, “Eugene Laverty is a rider we were already in contact with last year, we tried to sign him then and even though we didn't manage it at the time he is a rider we have been interested in for a long time. I think he is a rider with great potential, he has produced some incredible races in Supersport and Superbikes, and he has a lot of wins on his record with a lot of different manufacturers, which says a lot about his capacity to adapt.
Maybe he hasn't had the luck that you always need to win a world title but I am sure that he will be giving 100% to the DRIVE M7 Aspar Team. I am sure he will continue to develop as a rider and he can bring a lot to this team. He is ready to make the step to MotoGP. Next year we will have a new, more competitive Honda, and I have a lot of hope invested in our MotoGP project. I am sure we will achieve great results together,” Martínez added.
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