Barbera on Avintia 2013 challenge: “I think we will go far”

Spain’s Monteblanco circuit was the setting for Avintia Racing’s 2013 launch on Friday. As well as running CRT bikes for Hiroshi Aoyama and Héctor Barberá in MotoGP™ this year, the squad also has Toni Elías and Britain’s Kyle Smith in its Moto2™ line-up.

The presentation featured various activities for guests, such as the opportunity to take to the track in a selection of vehicles while being coached by professional instructors. The riders – joined by team heads Raul Romero and Antonio Martín – later assembled for a team photograph ahead of the resumption of testing in Jerez next week.

“It was a pleasure to be with you all and, I have to say, that was the funniest presentation I’ve been at since being involved in the world of motorcycle racing!” Barberá began. “I’ve known Raul since I was racing in the national Spanish championship and whenever we passed each other in the paddock I used to say, ‘When you have a MotoGP team, we’ll work together’. It turns out that was to become true, we’ve succeeded! I have to thank Avintia Blusens for supporting me and I want to return their efforts with a good job this season. With the team the way it is, I think we will go far.”

In pre-season testing so far this year, Avintia have appeared to be the closest challengers to CRT class leaders and reigning champions Power Electronics Aspar.

Source: motogp.com