Moto2: Debise to Speed Up
18-year-old Frenchman Valentin Debise will ride for the triple Moto2 race-winning Speed Up team during the 2011 season.
Debise, the only rider to use the ADV chassis this season, failed to score a point for the WTR team in 2010 and is unsurprisingly pleased to have signed for a team that took Andrea Iannone to third in the Moto2 World Championship (and Gabor Talmacsi to sixth).
"Joining the Speed Up team is a great opportunity to achieve better results," said Debise, who took a best race finish of 16th this year and 13th in 250cc during 2009. "It was clear to me in 2010 that I needed to gain more experience and I still have a lot to learn, but for 2011 I know I will develop in the best team and also have the chance to fight for good results and victory."
Former 125cc title contender Pol Espargaro will also ride a Speed Up in 2011.
Of the former Speed Up riders, Iannone has moved to the new (single rider) WTR/Speed Master partnership - on a Suter chassis - for 2011, while Talmacsi's plans have been thrown into doubt by the withdraw of the Jack&Jones by A. Banderas team that the Hungarian had been due to race for.