+- TT Website Forum (https://www.ttwebsite.com/forums)
+-- Forum: Isle of Man TT Website (https://www.ttwebsite.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?fid=3)
+--- Forum: Other Race Meetings - MotoGP, WSB & BSB, Irish Roads etc - (https://www.ttwebsite.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?fid=13)
+--- Thread: de Puniet to partner Espargaró in Aspar Claiming Rule Team for 2012 (/showthread.php?tid=12356)
de Puniet to partner Espargaró in Aspar Claiming Rule Team for 2012 - Malcolm - 28-11-2011
![[Image: asparlogo.jpg]](http://www.ttwebsite.com/gifs/asparlogo.jpg)
Team Aspar has confirmed the two riders it will field in 2012 after signing Randy de Puniet and Aleix Espargaró.
Jorge 'Aspar' Martinez graduated his team to MotoGP after years campaigned in the lower classes in 2010, running Hector Barbera on Ducatis for two seasons. For 2012 the Spanish team have opted to double their efforts as the CRT category providing the perfect opportunity for them to 'embrace new technologies',
De Puniet joins Aspar after having tested the team's Aprilia CRT mule at Jerez last week, finishing at the top of the timesheets. Initially unattracted to the idea of competing on a production-based machine, the Frenchman was left with limited options for 2012 after parting with the Pramac Ducati team after one season.
"I am very happy to return to the Aspar Team," said de Puniet, "Having already raced with them in 2005 during my 250cc career. I have very fond memories of that time and now we are taking on a new challenge together in the shape of CRT. I know that this is a very competitive team and they will be fighting to have the best material available. We have already tested and gathered a lot of good feedback.
"CRT is the future of MotoGP and even though we have a lot of work ahead of us it will be enjoyable. The objective for next season will be to adapt as soon as possible to this new prototype and gradually close the gap to the factory bikes. Testing at Jerez was very productive, we had good weather and managed to gather a lot of good data. The lap times were interesting even though we are obviously a long way off the motorcycle we will start the season with so I am very pleased with how everything is coming together."
Espargaró returns to MotoGP after a year in the Moto2 class. The Spaniard said: "First of all I am very excited to join the Aspar Team and especially to be returning to MotoGP, which is a huge source of motivation for me. In 2010 I had a pretty positive season and I would have liked to continue for another year.
"I think that with my height and weight I should be more suited to the category. CRT is a totally new concept and we will have a lot of work to do at the start but I have joined the Aspar Team because they comes with certain guarantees and I know they won't take this challenge lightly."
Team manager, Martinez added: "We are really happy because we find ourselves with a brand new challenge ahead of us and we have full faith that CRT is the future of MotoGP, which is why we are amongst the first to join this initiative.
As a team we continue to grow and after having a single rider for our first two seasons in MotoGP we will now have two in Randy de Puniet and Aleix Espargaró. We are sure that this will be a successful project with the riders we have but also with the engine supplier, which will be Aprilia. We always wanted to stick with them for this project because of the fabulous relationship we have with them and their pedigree in the smaller classes. Our objective this season is to be the best CRT team and to prepare for another step forward in 2013."