Copyright 2003, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

By David Swarts

David De Gea has been named by the Harris WCM MotoGP team as its second rider for round two of the 2003 MotoGP series in South Africa. De Gea will join Harris WCM full-time rider Chris Burns on the Harris-framed, Yamaha-based prototypes April 25-27 at Phakisa Freeway.

Spaniard De Gea, 25, has 38 Grand Prix starts since making his first appearance as a 125cc wild card at Catalunya in 1995. After sporadic GP appearances in the 125cc and 250cc classes from 1995 to 1998, De Gea raced Kenny Roberts’ Modenas KR3 in the 500cc class 17 times in 1999 and 2000 with a best finish of eighth at Catalunya in 2000. In 2001 De Gea campaigned the entire 250cc series, collected a best finish of third at Assen and finished 19th in the Championship.