It was a disastrous round one at Phillip Island for WSBK rookie Raffaele de Rosa, a DNS (due to broken handlebar bracket) in race one and a 17th spot in race 2 with a quick-shifter issue has convinced the Italian rider from Naples to split from his Pro Ride Real Game team.
Apparently the split with the team run by Marco Nicotari was amicable, but the 25-year old De Rosa speaking from the Motodays show in Rome said that Pro Ride team doesn’t have the “technical means to compete at World Superbike level” and that he’s looking for another ride in WSBK even if he knows that is impossible at the moment, so he’s interested in finding something in Supersport or Stock 1000.
In an official press release Pro Ride Motorsports has announced that the team has already signed an agreement with Lorenzo Alfonsi who will be replacing De Rosa for the rest of the season.
Alfonsi is a former European Superstock 1000 champion (2004), and is well known both in the Italian CIV and World Superbikes championships having raced in 2005 with Yamaha DFX Corse and in 2006 with Yamaha France at Valencia, and at Monza and Misano with Ducati PN CorseEng.
Marco Nicotari, Team Manager and Technical Director said, “I’ve know Lorenzo since 2007 and I’ve always talked with him about our projects, but every year we ended up on different roads, but I’ve always saw him as a great rider.
A sportsman that has grown up inside the paddock in a very honest and professional way and that absolutely deserves to return to World Superbikes.
A rider that will bring to Pro Ride his talent and a lot of “kilometers” on 1000cc bike and we’ll give him a reliable bike based on his style.
There’s a lot of work to be done ahead for his first race with us at Imola.
We are confident and I’m personally happy regarding this new challenge”.
“I am very happy to return to World Superbikes!” said Alonsi.
“I want to immediately ride the bike, the Pro Ride staff and I are motivated to make everything wors well in this season.
I’ve know Marco for such a long time and we get along well together.
I really want to make things work and I believe in this project.
It’s a great opportunity to get back into World Superbikes and I want to thank both Pro Ride and Helios for believing in me and for the support.
We will work together and try to get as many points possible in the championship, and since we’ve know each other for some years, we are already working well and with a lot of energy and head to Imola to get results.
”
