DRIVE M7 SIC RACING TEAM CONFIRM JAKUB KORNFEIL AND ADAM NORRODIN FOR 2016
DRIVE M7 SIC Racing Team are delighted to announce that Jakub Kornfeil will continue racing for the team in 2016. The Czech rider will contest the Moto3 Championship on board the Honda NSF250RW alongside upcoming Malaysian talent Adam Norrodin.
Following a positive season in the teams’ debut year, Jakub Kornfeil has shown great potential and improvement throughout. Since achieving the team’s first podium at the British Grand Prix, the 22 year old has gone from strength to strength, showing his increasing ability to battle with the leaders. The team firmly believe it is only a matter of time before Kornfeil claims his first World Championship win.
Currently competing in the Shell Advance Asia Talent Cup, 17 year old Adam Norrodin is a promising young talent who has continued to progress throughout his racing career. The Malaysian rider shone in front of his home crowd at the Malaysian Grand Prix last weekend where he claimed his second podium finish of the year. Alongside the SAAT Cup, Norrodin also competes in the Spanish CEV Championship, making him no stranger to racing at some of the European circuits.
Chief Executive Officer of Sepang International Circuit Dato’ Razlan Razali:
“I’m very excited to officially announce that we will be continuing our collaboration with Jakub Kornfeil for the 2016 Moto3 World Championship. I think he has done a great job this year and I’m sure with a year’s experience already in the team, he can do even more next year and potentially fight for the World Championship on a Honda machine. With a lot of tests being planned at Sepang Circuit, a circuit that he knows very well, I believe he will continue to progress and be able to achieve a lot more next season. I’m also pleased to announce Adam Norrodin as a rookie for the team next year. He has three years’ experience in the Asia Talent Cup and two years in the Junior World Championship, as well as the Spanish CEV, so he’s prepared to be in the Moto3 World Championship and we’re really looking forward to working with him. Together with Jakub and the team we should be able to help him and he should be able to learn a lot in the first year to be able to then excel in 2017.”
Johan Stigefelt – Team Manager:
“Re-signing Jakub is great for us as a team because we have been working together for a year now and we know each other very well. There are some very positive things to take with us from this year and also some weak points that we know we need to work on, but this is perfect because we can only get stronger as a unit. We will keep the same structure as this year. We know what we need to do to improve and we have a good relationship, so I’m very happy to continue working with Jakub. I think also for him it’s very good because it’s the first time he’s stayed in a team for two years in a row and this is important for his confidence. He is a good rider with great potential and we can see that. We just need to do the best we can for him and I think we will take a big step forward.
With Adam I think it will be a very hard rookie year for him. He’s a young rider coming from the Asia Talent Cup so it’s going to be a completely different level. He’s been riding in the CEV Championship this year, so he does have some knowledge of the Spanish circuits and riding in Europe, which is good. The World Championship is a big step so we’re going to have to be very humble with our expectations for Adam coming into the Moto3 class. We have to help to grow his ability and keep his confidence up as this will be the key point. He has to train hard in the winter, he needs to prepare himself very well and then it is up to us to give him the best package, which I believe we can do. It will be important for him to take all he can from us, the experience we have and learn from it. I think he also has a great teammate in Jakub who will help him and work with him. It will interesting to see how he can progress and we look forward to working with him.”
#84 Jakub Kornfeil:
“I’m very happy to be staying with the DRIVE M7 SIC Racing Team for 2016. I’ve really enjoyed my time with them this year. The structure is great and we all have the same mentality. They are a very professional team and I know that they can give me what I need to be competitive. Also what is great is that we all get on so well. I feel very comfortable with everyone and for me this is one of the most important things in a team. We have a great understanding of each other and I trust my crew a lot. This will be the first time I have stayed with the same team for two years in a row, so it’s perfect because I don’t have to start from zero; we already have a good relationship together.
Next year we will also switch to Honda. I think the NSF250RW will be very good, so thanks to our Team Manager Johan Stigefelt for pushing for this collaboration. I think the Honda is the best bike we can have. 2016 will be a very important season for both the team and myself; I think with this bike we can be really strong. I must say a big thanks to the sponsors for allowing me the opportunity to stay with the DRIVE M7 SIC Racing Team and for continuing to believe in me.”
#7 Adam Norrodin:
“I’m very excited to join the DRIVE M7 SIC Racing Team in 2016. This will be my first year in the World Championship! I’m also really looking forward to riding the Honda NSF250RW. This year in the Asia Talent Cup I have been riding a Honda so next year it is not such a big step in terms of machinery, which is good. This year I have also ridden in the Spanish CEV Championship, so I’m pleased to have some experience riding in Europe too. I’ve heard a lot of good things about the team so I’m very happy to be joining them. I think they will help me to progress my riding a lot. I know it will not be an easy year as a rookie in the Moto3 class but I will do my best; I can’t wait to get started.”