The JiR Team looks towards the future with two young riders With the last race of 2011 only just completed, Team JiR is already working to prepare for next season. Team Principal Gianluca Montiron wants to define the program for 2012 with investment in two young riders, one of which will even have to wait until the race at Silverstone for his debut, as he is not yet 16-years-old: the minimum age to take the World championship challenge. We are talking about Eric Granado, a young Brazilian rider that is actually challenging in the Spanish CEV, 125 GP class, where he has already gathered good results and is actually racing to consolidate his 6th place in the championship with only two races left to go. He will have a first contact with the World Series on the Valencian circuit for the IRTA test on November 7th. After this, his apprenticeship will continue yet in the CEV for the first half of the 2012 season, until he becomes 16 and is eligible for racing in the Moto2 class. The other MotoBI will be ridden by the growing French star Johann Zarco, a contender this year in a very good season, ending up in 2nd place in the 125cc World Championship. The young rider from Cannes has already shown his strength and determination, together with the enthusiasm for taking part in such a demanding challenge as Moto2 will definitely be. Using young riders is part of the design to build up a long-term plan in the intermediate class with two young and talented riders that come to be part of the JiR family, with the objective to grow up together and aim towards excellent results. Gianluca Montiron We are very excited for this new adventure that will help us to build a long-term path focused on the ultimate sport successes in this class. Johann has already shown his capabilities, he can rely on his youth (he’s just 21-years-old) and the fact that he has just started his racing career. He is well motivated and well supported by his manager Laurent Fellon. On the other side Eric will benefit of all the time he will need to adapt to a new world of racing, to learn new circuits and to discover Moto2’s secrets. We have built up a five-year program that includes his presence in Europe with the prosecution of his school studies together with races. I believe that in one’s life sometimes daring is necessary and this belief has pushed me to develop this Moto2 plan that will have to be a stepping stone for the Top Class. To make this program grow it will be necessary to have full contribution and co-operation of all the sponsors that are willing to make this pledge for the future beside us. Johann Zarco I am happy to be racing next year with Team JiR because it is a team that is already known and has had some very good results. From the meetings I had with the team’s management I realized that there are some very ambitious goals that they are aiming at, which is also in line with our expectations of being able to do well in Moto2. It certainly will not be easy, but I am ready to engage with Laurent (Laurent Fellon, his manager and trainer) to work hard on myself and figure out how to be fast on a Moto2 machine. Finally, I am convinced that the JiR Team will give me the opportunity to make good results. Eric Granado First of all, I would like to thank Team JiR for the chance of being able to participate in the 2012 season. For me it is a new step and a new stage in my life, I am very exciting to ride in the Moto2 class, I know it is a very competitive category and with very experienced riders; however it pleases me very much to get this chance. Next year I want to be able to learn very much with my new team and to improve my level and capability day-by-day , therefore I have much more yet to learn, as I am inexperienced in this category but I am certain that with work hard and devotion, I will adapt well to the MotoBI. I am super confident for next season and we will all work very hard together, mainly in the pre season, because it will be essential for my development and relationship with team JIR for my start to the championship.