NEWS

REA CONFIRMS WORLD SUPERSPORT RIDE WITH INTERMOTO

27/01/2010

Rea signs on the dotted line with team boss Josef Kubieck in Prague yesterday

By David Miller

Reigning European Superstock 600 Champion Gino Rea has confirmed he will ride with the Czech-based Intermoto Honda squad in 2010 and will have Massimo Roccoli as a team-mate.

The young Londoner tested with the team at Cartagena recently and flew to Prague yesterday to sign his contract. He will have Andrew Stone as a crew chief with whom he worked in 2008.

"I flew to the team's head office and workshop yesterday to sign the contract, I couldn't be happier right now. The team has a new colour scheme for this year and I get to run my number four which I'm really pleased about, I've had that number since I first rode a bike at the age of three, I won my first motocross championship with it and more recently the Superstock title in 2009," said Rea.

"I'm so excited to get on the bike at Phillip Island. This is what I've worked for since I come to the WSB paddock in 2007 in the Superstock class, where I first worked with Andrew Stone who will come with me into the Intermoto Honda team for our World Supersport campaign.

"After winning the Superstock 600cc title last year I really hoped it would help secure me a ride, and eventually it has. I'm looking forward to a new challenge and I can't wait to get things underway.

"The test went great and I showed that im capable of riding a Supersport bike fast. Things just went from there. I'm thankful that they have given me the opportunity to race with them and as aways I'll be working my best to repay their faith in me.

"I've been hard at work in the pre-season, I went to Spain training with Leon Camier so I hope that I can piece things together and be competitive in the World Supersport Championship. I know its going to be very hard, its such a competitive and premier class, so we will see how things pan out at the first round in Phillip Island."