JiR Moto2 ends Pasini association

Mattia Pasini and the JiR Moto2 team’s association has been ended with immediate effect, and Yusuke Teshima will ride in his place for this weekend’s Gran Premi Aperol de Catalunya.

“I don’t want to go into details, but I have a series of obligations to sponsors that the members of my team must help me to maintain,” said JiR Moto2 team owner Luca Montiron. “There have been situations that have led to the ending of the contract with Mattia.”

The good results achieved by team-mate Simone Corsi in contrast to those of Pasini did not play a part in the decision, said Montiron. “The results have influenced the sponsors, but they are not a justification. The main problem has been his character, the results have been a minimal influence.”

The rider who will be on the second JiR Moto2 bike this weekend in Catalunya will be Yusuke Teshima, test rider for TSR and 2009 ST600cc Japanese champion the bike which the Italian team currently uses under the brand name Motobi. “We don’t have grand expectations, because he actually arrived this week to help us with the development of the bike in the test at Motorland next week,” added Montiron, who then discussed a permanent replacement.

“The regulations state we can run for two races without a substitute, that is to say we have time until Brno. The idea is to go with a young rider, and it’s not important if he’s Italian or not. For the moment we will see how this race goes. We are contemplating the idea of incorporating a CEV Buckler (Spanish National Championship) rider, but time is on our side.”