The Pedercini Kawasaki Racing Team have confirmed that former MotoGP rider and World Superbike podium finisher Alex De Angelis will ride for them in 2017.
The rider from San Marino made his WorldSBK debut this season with Ioda Racing, who also entered the series for the first time. De Angelis, a former Grand Prix winner in the 250cc and Moto2 class, had previously ridden for Ioda in the MotoGP World Championship on an ART machine in 2015, though his season was cut short after a massive crash during practice for the Japanese Grand Prix.
De Angelis enjoyed a decent maiden year in the world’s top production bike racing series on the Aprilia RSV4, scoring points in all races he finished including a sensational second place in a wet second outing in Germany in September. He ended the year 13th in the standings on 96 points.
Commenting on his signing to Pedercini, De Angelis said: “I’m really happy I was able to find an agreement and become part of Pedercini Racing Team. It’s a new and engaging adventure, with a bike that has shown and are still showing to be really competitive.
“To be the rider with a team like Pedercini makes me really proud, but also it bring loads of responsibilities to my shoulders. I know next year we are going to have to fight to always be in the first few rows due to also to the new regulations. I feel I may have the experience and skills to make this happen and mostly I know I can count on a capable team of experts and a fast motorbike.”
De Angelis will have his first taste of the ZX-10R he’ll ride during the 2017 WorldSBK campaign at the end of January when pre-season testing gets underway.
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