Press Release | November 5, 2019
Satellite team owned by Max Biaggi will field Romano Fenati and Alonso Lopez in the 2020 season on the new Husqvarna FR 250 GP machine.
This is a press release from Husqvarna…
(November 5, 2019) — Husqvarna Motorcycles are pleased to announce their return to international road racing and the FIM World Championship Grand Prix Moto3 class where they will officially support the Max Racing Team. Owned by four-time 250cc World Champion Max Biaggi who secured no fewer than 42 GP victories during an illustrious career and under the management of experienced German former-racer Peter Öttl, the team will field Romano Fenati and Alonso Lopez in the 2020 season on the new Husqvarna FR 250 GP.
The Moto3 class replaced the outgoing 125cc category in 2012 and is restricted to single-cylinder 250cc four-stroke machines. In 2014 Husqvarna Motorcycles secured Moto3 class podium finishes, stepping away from the series at the end of 2015. With a rich heritage in road racing, Husqvarna Motorcycles’ return to the hotly contested Moto3 category mirrors the brand’s wider expansion into the global street motorcycle market.
Unveiling the Husqvarna FR 250 GP
Peter Öttl and Max Biaggi with the Husqvarna FR 250 GP bike.
The experienced Romano Fenati finished the 2017 Moto3 World Championship as runner-up, showing himself to be a rider capable of delivering strong, season-long performances. During his time as a Moto3 campaigner Fenati has earned 11 GP victories, 24 podiums and four pole positions. Alonso Lopez, at just 17 years old, is also keen to make his mark on the Moto3 series. 2020 will be the young Spaniard’s third year in the class having made his debut in 2018, claiming a recent third-place result at the Thai Grand Prix he has shown he is more than capable of fighting for top results.
Moto3 World Championship kicks off in Qatar on March 8, 2020.
Stefan Pierer – CEO KTM AG: “We are very much looking forward to seeing the return of Husqvarna Motorcycles to the MotoGP paddock. The Moto3 class represents the perfect platform to showcase the Husqvarna brand, as we have seen in the past during the 2014 and 2015 seasons. With Husqvarna Motorcycles continuing to expand in the direction of performance street motorcycles, we believe the added exposure from racing in the Moto3 class will help us maintain the brand’s continued growth for many years to come.”
Pit Beirer – Motorsports Director at KTM / Husqvarna Motorcycles: “We’re really excited to be able to bring the Husqvarna Motorcycles brand back into road racing and the Moto3 World Championship. The Moto3 category is an excellent platform to nurture new Grand Prix talent and represents the first rung in MotoGP World Championship competition when it comes to developing rider potential. With the knowledgeable and experienced pairing of Max Biaggi and Peter Öttl heading the team, and riders Fenati and Lopez both more than capable of challenging for race wins, we are really looking forward to seeing what the Max Racing Team can do in the 2020 season with the Husqvarna FR 250 GP.”
Max Biaggi – Max Racing Team Principal: “I am very happy that Husqvarna Motorcycles have chosen to support our team for their return to international road racing. Husqvarna’s re-entry into Moto3 is a very special and unique moment, one that personally I am very proud to be associated with. Everyone in the team is looking forward to 2020. We believe that with the support of Husqvarna Motorcycles we can achieve great things. Our two riders are both very motivated. With Romano Fenati and Alonso Lopez, we have one experienced and one young rider, but both can deliver strong results. We will give our riders all we can to allow them to show their true potential.”
Peter Öttl – Max Racing Team Manager: “I am really proud to work with Husqvarna Motorcycles in the Moto3 World Championship. After my active racing career, I worked for Husqvarna in their Offroad Racing Department, so to be opening another chapter with the brand in 2020 is personally very special to me. We have a close relationship with the company for almost 10 years now and this project is another display of trust but also a huge responsibility for our team. With the signing of Romano Fenati and Alonso Lopez, we will have two promising riders on the Husqvarna FR 250 GP. Fenati is one of the most successful Moto3 riders in recent years and he proved it already with 11 GP victories. We are convinced that he has the potential to fight for the podium right away. With Alonso Lopez, we rely on a young rider – he´s just 17 years old but already with two years’ experience in the FIM World Championship. During the last races he has produced some great performances in the category and we are confident he will evolve and improve in our team. I am more than satisfied with our rider line-up – with an experienced rider and a young talent both at a high level in the Moto3 FIM World Championship we’re looking forward to a very positive 2020 season.”
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