Briton Scott Redding and Belgian Vincent Lonbois are the two young riders who have been selected to spearhead the Marc VDS Racing Team’s assault on the inaugural Moto2 World Championship title in 2010. Although this season will mark only his third in World Championship racing, Scott Redding already features in the record books, after becoming the youngest rider ever to win a Grand Prix when he took victory in the 125cc race at Donington Park in 2008 aged just 15. The win at Donington, and a podium finish in the same race the following year, was enough to convince Team Manager, Michael Bartholemy, that Redding, who celebrated his 17th birthday just days ago, was ready to step up to the Moto2 World Championship with the Marc VDS Racing Team in 2010. Redding’s new teammate, Vincent Lonbois, brings a wealth of experience aboard 600cc four-stroke machines, as he makes the step up from the European Superstock 600 Championship, in which he placed third in 2009. The 19-year-old, who lives in Waterloo near Brussels, racked up six podium finishes during the course of the season, including two back-to-back race wins about his MTM Racing Yamaha. Lonbois will run with the number 27 on his bike, the number made famous by fellow Belgian, Didier de Radiguès, during his illustrious Grand Prix career. For the 2010 season both Redding and Lonbois will race the Suter MMX machines, designed and built by former Grand Prix racer, Eskil Suter. The 600cc four-stroke machines will be delivered to the Marc VDS Racing Team at the end of January, with the team scheduled to start testing during February. Scott Redding: #45 “I’m over the moon to have signed up with the Marc VDS Racing Team for the coming season. I’ve spoken with Michael Bartholemy a few times now and the whole set-up seems ultra-professional, which I’m obviously pleased about. I’ve already tested a couple of the Moto2 bikes and first impressions were good, but I can’t wait to try the Suter MMX machine out in February. I saw the bike on track during its initial shakedown tests at the end of last year, so it will be interesting to see how it has evolved when I test it for the first time in February. In the meantime I’m focussing on my fitness, but I’ve also got to fit in some driving lessons as well. I only turned 17 on 4th January and I’ve already passed the theory test for my licence, but the practical test may be a bit more difficult, especially with all the snow we’ve got in the UK at the moment!” Vincent Lonbois: #27 “This coming season will be the biggest challenge of my career so far, but I am so happy that I will be making the step up to the Moto2 World Championship with the Marc VDS Racing Team. I’m very anxious to start testing the new bike, and I’m looking forward even more to getting the season underway in Qatar. I would like to thank the team for placing their confidence in me and for giving me this fantastic opportunity. My aim now is to repay this confidence by working hard to secure the best results possible for the team. I would also like to say a big thank you to Marc van der Straten for welcoming me into his racing family.” Marc van der Straten (Team owner) The timing couldn’t be better to start a new team with the launch of the Moto2 World Championship. I’m very confident that Didier de Radiguès and Michael Bartholemy, who brought me into this brand new adventure, together with our 2 young riders and all the team members will experience a great first season and will enhance proudly the awareness of the Marc VDS Racing Team name as will our GT1, GT3 and Rally Raid operations in the upcoming season. Didier de Radiguès (Sporting Manager) “Firstly, I would like to thank Marc van der Straten for making all this possible. His enthusiasm for our Moto2 project has been exceptional and his unswerving support during this time, has been critical to the success of the project. I’m very happy to start this new program with two very young riders. The future looks bright for Marc VDS Team in Moto 2 and with Michael Bartholemy, Scott Redding and Vincent Lonbois I’m sure we will fast reach our Moto GP goal. Michael Bartholemy (Team Manager) Scott is a very talented young rider who maybe didn’t have the machinery on which to show his true potential in 2009, but whom I have every confidence will have a major impact on the Moto2 World Championship in its inaugural season. Vincent will be making his debut this season on the Grand Prix grid, but his experience of 600cc four-stroke machinery, gained in the highly competitive European Superstock Championship, will mean he should be on the pace from the off. I’m looking forward to seeing what both riders can do when we start testing with the Suter MMX machines in mid-February.”