De Rosa to ride for G22 in Moto2

The 2011 Moto2 World Championship grid continues to rapidly take shape and the latest rider to confirm his plans for next season is Italian star Raffaele de Rosa.

The 23 year-old from Napoli, who scored a best result of sixth in the Estoril round towards the end of the 2010 season, has announced that his second campaign in the 600cc four-stroke intermediate category will see him join forces with the G22 set-up run by Pablo Nieto.

“To play an important role in a team such as the G22 one gives me great pleasure,” said De Rosa. “This year hasn’t been a very positive one for me, but I never stopped believing in my own ability. I’m approaching the future with great optimism and am ready to start an important new chapter in my career.”

De Rosa rode G22’s Moriwaki chassis at the end-of-season Valencia Test in November, and is looking forward to gaining further feedback on its performance. He added: “What struck me was the ease of handling, the balanced nature of the chassis and the development of the engine. I can’t wait to take it on in the next Test.”

In preparation for his second season in Moto2 – which will be his seventh in the World Championship – De Rosa is undertaking a rigorous fitness regime.

“I’m following a programme that combines cycling with swimming. In modern motorcycling you must be a true athlete. My trainer is Arturo di Mezza, a former Olympic long distance race walker, who has a passion for motorcycling and I’m also doing motocross with Tony Cerbone, who is an icon.”

Anticipating another tough battle in his second year in Moto2, De Rosa added: “The 2011 season will be even more difficult, because even if Toni Elías has moved on Mika Kallio has arrived, and he is very tough.”