Jezek moves to Guandalini Yamaha

Ondrej Jezek has switched to Guandalini Racing Yamaha for the 2018 World Superbike championship and is relishing the chance to emulate the success the team enjoyed with his fellow countryman Jakub Smrz.

The Czech Republic rider will move from Team Grillini to Guandalini Racing Yamaha for 2018 to mark his second full campaign in the World Superbike championship after finishing his rookie campaign 23^rd in the riders’ championship.

Jezek is relishing the prospect of linking up with Guandalini Racing, who enjoyed podium and pole position success with Smrz, and is hopeful of building on his rookie campaign.

“I am very pleased to join Guandalini Racing in 2018,” Jezek said. “I would like to thank Mirco Guandalini for this great opportunity. I know the team did their best results with my friend Jakub Smrz some years ago. It will be not easy to repeat it but we have all the cards in our hands.

“The project for next year seems very interesting. There is a lot of work in front of me and the whole team now. I’ve never ridden a Yamaha, so I already can’t wait for the first test.”

Mirco Guandalini says he’s been impressed by the Czech rider’s progress through the WSBK ranks and is aiming to use the new concession rules to close the gap to the factory-supported Pata Yamaha squad as its benchmark for 2018

“It is with great pleasure that I am communicating the agreement with Ondrej Jezek; I've been following for a few years, especially with Team Barni in Superstock 1000, when he made great results,” Guandalini said. “We will continue with Yamaha, and certainly with the opportunity to use the "Concession Parts" will allow us to have a high-speed bike.

“We are aware of the difficulty of the championship, but with the work and the humility I am sure we can strive for important goals.”