MULTIPLE ITALIAN CHAMPION MATTEO BAIOCCO JOINS 2013 MCE BSB Double Italian Superbike champion Matteo Baiocco has signed for the Moto Rapido Ducati team to become the latest multiple domestic champion to join the 2013 MCE Insurance British Superbike Championship. Baiocco first visited a round of the Championship at Cadwell Park last year before making a one-event debut at the penultimate round at Silverstone when he deputised with the Hampshire-based team. The reigning Italian Superbike champion is now preparing for his first full campaign in the championship, joining rival national champions Josh Waters (double Australian) and Ryuichi Kiyonari (Asian Road Race). The team secured point-scoring finishes in their first campaign with the Ducati Panigale when it debuted last year and with Baiocco’s experience as a factory test rider for the much-anticipated new model, the team are aiming even higher for the forthcoming season. Baiocco said: “I am very happy to join Moto Rapido. We have been working on this together for a long time and I really want to thank Steve Moore for the opportunity. During 2012 I had already got to know the team and BSB; I like the team very much and I was excited to race in BSB. This will be a very important season for me after winning in Italy. I look forward to the challenge of BSB and will do my best to be competitive in the best national series in the world. I want to say thank you to Ducati Corse and Ducati UK who will help us this season. A big hello to all the British fans who have a great passion for racing.” Team owner Steve Moore concluded: “Firstly I am really pleased to continue our project in BSB with Ducati and I am very happy to have put pen to paper with Matteo over the Christmas break. He is quite a character and I am sure the BSB fans will love him. Matteo is twice Italian Superbike champion with Ducati and his strong links to the factory brings increased technical support from Ducati Corse. With the upgrade to the 1199R Panigale this year we are expecting to progress well. We are still a new team so the challenge has been huge, but this season is looking stronger than ever for us and we have more exciting news still to come.” For more information please visit www.britishsuperbike.com