Kornfeil signs World Championship deal

Jakub Kornfeil’s competitive rivalry with Sturla Fagerhaug will continue next year after it was confirmed the 16 year-old Czech rider has signed for Racing Team Germany, to compete in the 125cc World Championship.

Kornfeil won the Rookies Cup 2009 by just two points, ahead of Fagerhaug, and will now join the Norwegian star on the World stage in 2010 after successful negotiations with Racing Team Germany owner/manager Dirk Heidolf.

“He really knows what he is talking about and I think must be a very good team manager and will be a big help next year,” said Kornfeil of Heidolf. “I know that the competition will be very, very hard. At the moment it is impossible to say what I can do. We should know more after the pre-season tests, at least then I will have ridden the bike and have a little more idea.”

He continued: “I will give it my maximum effort and I have a good background after my two years in the Rookies Cup. If I can finish the season in the top 15 in the World Championship I will be very happy and so will my team.”

Heidolf said of the acquisition: “I was happy to sign him because he is fast, young and very clever. This will be his first year in MotoGP 125cc and it will be a learning year, and we have a two-year contract. The results must be better and better, step by step, and in some races I think he can run in positions 10 to 13. This is the plan for the first season. We will also fit in as many races as we can outside the GPs: the German Championship race at Sachsenring for example and anything else we can do to gain experience.”

Heidolf added: “The Rookies Cup is great and the best school for the young riders. The teams are all very interested to see talent and so we watch the races.”

Fagerhaug was confirmed as an Ongetta I.S.P.A. rider earlier this month, having signed an initial one-year deal with Fiorenzo Caponera’s team for next year’s World Championship, and the pair will now reignite their great competition in 2010.