Presentation of Argiñano Team and Ricky Cardús for Moto2

The Team Argiñano was presented today in Madrid, announcing its return to the Motorcycle World Championship, specifically to the Moto2 class, alongside rider Ricky Cardús, who will be the only member of the team for this 2012 season.

So, after comings and goings, changes and decisions, the Argiñano Racing Team (ART) was presented today ahead of the Motorcycle World Championship. It seems that after a season in the CEV Moto2, they have decided to take this step up in category, and they have done so together with Cardús. It is a project of Karlos Argiñano and Ginés Guirado, who have joined this adventure, both with great enthusiasm and determination, so let’s go all out in the intermediate class, with strong backing from the sponsor Mad-Croc.

Without a doubt, their entry into Moto2 is a step forward, after their first season in 125cc with Derbi several years ago, and after taking a period of reflection in the Spanish Speed Championship. But now the time has come to channel their passion, and they will do so in a category with many riders and strong teams, where the fight for the front positions is intense and at its peak, so the excitement is at fever pitch.

For the moment, we do not know which bike they will use this 2012 season. In principle, next week at the IRTA tests in Jerez they will make a decision after testing two models. We will see what both the rider and the team decide.

Statements from Karlos Argiñano, majority shareholder of the Argiñano Racing Team:

I am very grateful to you, to Ricky and to Mad-Croc, for having trusted the Argiñano Racing Team. I have been following motorcycle racing for many years. There have been years when I have had a team, in 2009 in the 125cc World Championship with 3 riders, and last year we ran the Moto2 CEV with two riders. And now we have seized the opportunity to enter the world championship with a rider like Ricky Cardús. I think we are going to have a very good year.

Statements from Ginés Guirado, partner and sporting director of the Argiñano Racing Team:

We are very pleased to have been able to close an agreement with Ricky Cardús. He is a rider with whom we want to go very far. We are driven by great enthusiasm to be at the very front line of motorcycle racing.

We are going to work at full capacity. We have closed the agreement with the pre-season already underway. We travel to next week’s test in Jerez with a very defined programme, which involves running two bikes, Suter and AJR, so that Ricky can test them extensively and decide which one to compete with this year. I am also very satisfied because we are taking the natural step forward, from the CEV to the world championship.

It is a pity that our engineer Chus Sánchez is leaving us, as he is already in Formula 1, but new people with great drive and knowledge are joining us.

On the other hand, we had another earlier plan with the rider Kenny Noyes, but nothing was signed because in the end his needs did not match ours. We wish him the very best.

Statements from Ricky Cardús, rider of the Argiñano Racing Team:

Better late than never. This signing shows that I have got my way: being able to continue in the world championship. I did not have the chance to continue with the Qatar team; I wish them the best.

Now my team is Karlos Argiñano’s and I am more than happy. Hard work is what opens doors. I have been working hard all winter without a clear destination, and I have gone from having nothing to having a very interesting offer, the most interesting of my sporting career.

The first step is the test next week in Jerez. I have two bike options and I am not ruling out any of them; we have to try everything and draw conclusions. A Spanish bike that could make its debut in the world championship could be interesting, or the bike of the world constructors’ champion. I thank Karlos Argiñano and Ginés Guirado for their trust. I do not want to let them down.

Source | Arguiñano Racing Team