Cycle News Staff | October 2, 2014
World Superbike rider Eugene Laverty will make the move to MotoGP next season as it was announced today that the Northern Irishman will ride for the DRIVE M7 Aspar Team on the production Honda. Laverty got his start in the World Championship, racing the 250cc class in 2007 and 2008. So after six seasons in the production series, the 28-year old is happy to return to the Grand Prix paddock.
“I am very excited to take on this new challenge,” Laverty said on MotoGP’s website. “My greatest wish was to compete in MotoGP and finally it will be granted thanks to the DRIVE M7 Aspar Team. I have had to wait quite a long time but finally the chance is here and my dream has become a reality. I learnt a lot the last time I was in the MotoGP paddock, but I was very young back then and I didn’t have the right material to succeed.
“Now I am coming back in the top category on a competitive bike and with an experienced team. I have had to be patient but now I am ready for this. Since moving up to Superbikes I have had to adapt to lots of different bikes and I have won on all of them, which has been a good experience for me. I guess this can be an advantage as I switch categories. One of the main reasons I have signed with the DRIVE Aspar Team is because of Jorge and Gino (Borsoi), who are top professionals with huge experience in the best championship in the world. I am sure I will learn a lot from them.”
