Pesek to join Luthi in 250cc next year

Lukas Pesek will be a 250cc rider next season, joining Thomas Luthi in what is currently the Emmi Caffe Latte Aprilia team. The 22 year-old Czech rider, currently battling for third in the 125cc World Championship, signed a deal with team owner Daniel Epp upon returning from Malaysia, marking his return to the quarter litre class where he rode nine races in the 2003 season.

Pesek's new team will also continue to run Sandro Cortese in 125cc, with the German receiving a new bike for 2008.

"I'm really looking forward to riding the 250cc bike; it's heavier and more powerful. I'm sure that the feeling will be closer to a MotoGP machine than the 125cc. I know it will be totally different, but I have no doubt that this is the right step at the right time," said Pesek upon putting pen to paper on the deal.

"Over the past few years Lukas has become one of the best 125cc riders in the world, and I'm confident that he will manage the change to 250cc", said Team Manager Daniel Epp. "Lukas will ride the Aprilia LE bike for the first time right after the last race in Valencia. He will be a member of our - now new three rider - team and will use the same team structure, but Caffe Latte will not be his main sponsor as they are not in the Czech market yet. Therefore he will have a different team name to that of Lüthi and Cortese."