British Superbike Rider Michael Laverty surprised on a ride for PBM for 2013 – MotoGP news
The chance to ride for Paul Bird Motorsport in the 2013 MotoGP season came as a bit of a shock for the northern Irish rider, Michael Laverty.
At the age of 31, Laverty was not expecting a chance to race in MotoGP as he said, “I'm a realist. Once you pass your mid-20s you think that if you haven't got to GP by then, it´s not going to happen.”
It was Shane Byrne, more commonly known as ‘Shakey,’ the 2012 British Superbike Champion who was first contacted by PBM but after his refusal, PBM decided to go in the 2013 MotoGP championship with Laverty.
“I know I wasn't first choice for the ride, Shakey was,” said Laverty, “When he turned it down I was surprised to get the call, but it was a nice surprise.”
Laverty will be succeeding James Ellison, the 32-year-old Lancashire rider who rode for PBM in 2012.
Laverty’s motorcycle in the championship will be a custom made British built PBM chassis with Aprilia engine. The chassis has been developed by GPMS. Magneti Marelli control ECU will also be used in Laverty’s bike. According to the new set of MotoGP rules,
Magneti Marelli control ECU will become an obligation for all bikes in 2014.
In the 2013 season, two riders will be participating who do not have any prior experience in MotoGP races. Laverty will be one of those two drivers Gresini Honda CRT's Bryan Staring being the other one.
Laverty seems to be quite aware of the work assigned to him because he said, “I’ll have a lot to learn in MotoGP - half the circuits will be new to me, I'll have new brakes and tyres, a new type of chassis, a new grid of competitors.”
Laverty’s first MotoGP experience will come in the test scheduled to take place at Sepang at the start of February and he is really looking forward to it. Laverty will have to give it his best efforts in order to make his MotoGP debut memorable.
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