J R RACING ANNOUNCES ITS 2015 RIDER LINE-UP
After weeks of speculation and rumours, J R Racing is delighted to be able to announce its definitive rider line-up for the 2015 World Superbike Championship. Spaniard Toni Elias and Italian Ayrton Badovini will contest next year’s title race with the new BMW S1000 RR.
Toni Elias is one of the most experienced motorcycle racers around. He began his career racing 125s in the World Championship, in 2000, when he was just seventeen years of age. He took his first win in 2001 and finished 3rd in the championship that year. He moved up to the 250 class in 2002 and stayed there for three years, before progressing to MotoGP in 2005. In 2010 he competed in the inaugural Moto2 World Championship, taking the title comfortably with three races to spare. Over the next two years he suffered mixed fortunes in Moto2 and MotoGP before switching to the World Superbike Championship for the last four races of 2013.
Toni Elias “This is a very exciting project and I am happy to be part of it. I think the BMW S1000 RR will be a very good bike for the new rules in 2015 and I am really looking forward to racing it. Next year will be a very interesting year for World Superbikes and although there’s a lot of work to be done and the team is completely new, I think we may surprise a few people.”
Ayrton Badovini is no stranger to the BMW S1000 RR. He was 2010 FIM Superstock Champion, riding a BMW S1000 RR, for BMW Motorrad Itlalia. He dominated the championship taking 10 podiums, including 9 wins and won the title by a massive 98 points. He took part in the World Superbike Championship on a BMW S1000 RR in 2011 and 2012 before switching to Ducati in 2013. But he returned to BMW power onboard the Alstare Bimota BB3 in 2014, making him the most experienced BMW powered rider in the paddock.
Ayrton Badovini “I think the BMW S1000 RR is one of the best bikes for the new regulations. I remember the original BMW and I believe that the new bike can only be better. Having Troy Corser in the team will help our team’s progress and my development as rider. I am very happy to be part of this new and exciting project and cannot wait to get started.”
Gemma Voces Pons (Team Manager)
“I know Toni quite well from the past and believe he will be very competitive, even though he has no experience with the BMW. He is very keen to start and I can’t wait to see him riding our bike.
“I have been watching Ayrton for years and am very impressed with his skills. His experience with the S1000RR is very important to us and I know he will help develop the bike and bring it to the top.
“I really feel we have a top rider line-up and, even though we are a little behind in our preparation for the new season, I’m sure we will not disappoint.”
‘Chary’ Robinson (Team Owner)
“I’m very happy with our choice of riders. It’s very important for us, and our partners, to have a Spanish and an Italian rider. I’m pretty sure we will achieve very good results with them both.
“Toni needs no introduction. I worked with him back in 125cc and was already very impressed with his skills then.
“Ayrton has done an impressive job with Bimota and BMW over the years and I’m pretty sure he will fit in the team very well.
“There’s a lot of work to be done before the first race, but I cannot wait to see the bikes in action.”