This year’s 125cc runner-up Johann Zarco (he crashed out yesterday at Valencia – Nico Terol became the 2011 World Champion) will be moving up the GP ladder and will be riding for Gianluca Montiron’s JiR Racing Moto2 team in 2012.
Zarco had announced that he had been in talks with Gianluca Montiron at Aragon and it has now been officially confirmed.
His future team mate will be 15 -year old Eric Granado who currently races in the Spanish 125cc CEV championship, however he’ll be able to debut only at the Silverstone round in June when he turns 16 and legally able race in the World Grand Prix series.
“I am happy to be racing next year with Team JiR because it is a team that is already famous and has had some very good results.
From the meetings I had with the team’s management I understood that they have very ambitious goals that they are aiming at, which is also in line with our expectations of being able to do well in Moto2.
It certainly will not be easy, but I am ready to work with Laurent [Fellon, manager and trainer] and work hard on myself and figure out how to be fast on a Moto2 machine.
Finally, I am convinced that the JiR Team will give me the opportunity to obtain good results,” commented Zarco.
While teenager Granado said, “First of all, I would like to thank Team JiR for giving me the chance to take part in the 2012 season.
For me it will be a new new step and a new stage in my life, I am very excited to ride in the Moto2 class, I know it is a very competitive category and with very experienced riders; I like it a lot.
Next year I want to be able to learn a lot from my new team and improve my capabilities on a day-to day level.
I have a lot learn, as I don’t have any experience in this category, but I am certain that with work hard and devotion, I’ll adapt well to the MotoBI.
I am super confident for next season and we will all work very hard together, mainly during pre season, because this will be essential for my development and building my relationship with the JIR team.
”Alex de Angelis took fourth in the Moto2 standings for JiR Racing, and the Sammarinese has already been confirmed with NGM Forward.