MotoGP News
Current Moto2 rider Karel Abraham will be an addition to the 2011 MotoGP grid, the 20-year-old confirming he signed with Cardion AB Motoracing.
Cardion AB currently sponsors his Moto2 bike, but will be running a Ducati GP11 in the premier class next season. This will create an 18-rider grid for 2011, which wil assist in the growth of the premier class. There were a few races when the grid was hurting for riders; during this year’s British Grand Prix and the TT Assen, only 15 riders competed due to two riders missing the rounds because of injuries, Fiat Yamaha rider Valentino Rossi and Interwetten Honda rider Hiroshi Aoyama.
With the addition of the Cardion AB satellite team, Czech Republic native will be the sixth rider on a Ducati. He will join the other Ducatis on the grid: the factory Ducati Marlboro Team (current riders Casey Stoner and Nicky Hayden), the satellite Pramc Racing Team (current riders Mika Kallio and Aleix Espargar) and the satellite Aspar Team (current rider Hector Barbera).
Abraham is expected to make his announcement at the Czech RepublicGrand Prix in Brno, Round 10 of the 2010 MotoGP Championship, which occurs Aug. 13-15. It should be noted that Abraham is the son of Cardion AB’s team owner, Karel Abraham Sr. The father also owns the Masaryk Circuit in Brno, where the Czech Grand Prix will take place.
Abraham made his debut in the 125cc Class in 2005, and has never been on the podium. His best finish this year was fourth at Catalunya, and he is currently 14th in the Moto2 point standings. He recently tested a Ducati GP10 at Mugello circuit in Italy, reportedly posting respectable lap times.