Barbera and Pons to team up next season

Spanish rider Hector Barbera will head the 2009 Jack & Jones WRB rider line-up as the team moves into the 250cc category with ex-rider Sito Pons at the helm.

Manolo Burillo, the current manager of the team for whom Nico Terol and Simone Corsi ride in the 125cc class, has revealed to motogp.com that Barbera has been recruited from Team Toth for the forthcoming two seasons.

`We signed a deal with Hector a while ago. He is one of the top riders and is very technically gifted. We believe he can help us take our sporting project on to the next level of its development,´ stated Burillo.

Claiming that it would be Barbera´s target to fight for the 250cc title with the new team, Burillo added, `Hector will have an official Aprilia RSA at his disposal and he will bring some of his current technical staff with him.

The team are also expected to retain the services of Terol, while new sponsors in 125cc and 250cc are a distinct possibility – which could see the outfit renamed in the new year.

The new project will be directed by former 250cc World Champion Pons, who was a team manager in MotoGP for well over a decade up until 2006 and brings with him vast World Championship experience both on and off track.