Yesterday evening at the Hotel Balneario de las Arenas in Valencia, Power Electronics Aspar Team officially presented Randy de Puniet and Aleix Espargaro and the 2012 race livery to the public (we already saw the new livery during the CRT test held at Aragon earlier this March) ahead of the official MotoGP IRTA test that starts this Friday at Jerez.
Aspar Martinez decided to run at CRT team after talks with Ducati fell through over the cost of their GP bikes (Ducati boss Filippo Preziosi has said that it is impossible for MotoGP prototype to cost around €1 million) and his choice fell on the ART (Aprilia RSV4 engine in an Aprilia protype chassis) which will allow him to field two riders this season.
“For myself and for the Power Electronics Aspar Team the CRT project is an exciting challenge.
We had one rider in the premier-class before and now we have two, so I am delighted with this.
The concept and regulations of the premier-class have changed a lot and there is a lot of future in MotoGP.
Our tests have been excellent and we are highly motivated.
I want to thank Power Electronics for the confidence that they have placed in this project.
I also want to thank the other new sponsors: Vibo, Bel Ray and Crecs.
” said the powerful manager, who also runs teams in Moto2 and Moto3 under different sponsors.
Randy de Puniet impressed with his lap times during a CRT test at Jerez – he was just 0.
300s from Hector Barbera on the Ducati GP 12 – said, “I was really excited about the presentation of the new Power Electronics Aspar Team.
We had the opportunity to see the new designs for the bike and leathers a while ago at Aragón and they are beautiful.
What’s more, the presentation is in Valencia, the Aspar Team and Power Electronics are from Valencia and I feel at home here.
The start of the season is fast approaching and I consider that we are ready to go.
We only have the weekend test at Jerez to go, at which we will get a better idea of what awaits us at the opening race.
”Team mate Aleix Espargaro who is making the step back to MotoGP after spending a season in Moto2 on a Kalex with team Pons added, “I wanted to attend the Power Electronics Aspar Team presentation very much.
The fact that we can afford to come along means that everything is in order and we are almost at the start of the season.
The preseason seemed to fly by for me, so now I just want to get the final test over and done with and get to Qatar.
I am really excited to be part of this new CRT project.
I hope that both my teammate and I have a good season and that we fight to be the best CRT riders.
It is great that the Aspar Team has a Valencian main sponsor.
”
