Salom and Binder secure RW Racing GP Moto3 rides

Luis Salom and Brad Binder will ride in the new Moto3 category for the Dutch team RW Racing GP, after being confirmed as the outfit’s 2012 rider line-up.

Salom rode with the team in this year’s last-ever 125cc World Championship and took an impressive eighth-placed finish, scoring his first GP podiums at Assen and Phillip Island along the way.

“I’m very happy with this team,” said Spanish rider Salom, who has already campaigned two seasons with them in the World Championship. “I’ve had some great offers from other teams for next season, but RW Racing GP feels like my family.”

South African talent Binder stood in for Salom at Indianapolis earlier in the season, taking 17th place in his GP debut, and impressed enough to earn a ride for the last four rounds of the Championship with another team.

“I was lucky to be offered the ride with RW Racing GP,” said the 16 year-old, a graduate of the Red Bull Rookies Cup. “I learned a lot at Indianapolis with RW Racing, the support they gave me was just wonderful. I gained a very good feeling over that weekend. After working with some other teams at the close of this season, the choice was not difficult. I feel at home with RW Racing GP and I really think I can develop with this team and become a better rider.”

Team owner Roelof Waninge said of the two riders: “We are very pleased with Luis Salom. The cooperation is excellent. Luis has grown tremendously and has demonstrated his qualities with several superb results. The whole team is happy with him. Like Luis, Brad sees us as one big family. That suits him well, and from our point of view it is the same, he fits well into our team. Brad is a typical racer, mentally strong, in the race he rode with faster times than in qualifying, a real talent. That is one of the reasons I stepped into Grand Prix racing with my own team, to give talented riders the opportunity to develop and grow. Luis has now developed into a top rider, and I think we can reach that with Brad too.”

The team will run Kalex-KTM bikes in 2012 with the full support of Kalex, and Waninge added: “It is a top machine, with which Luis certainly should be able to achieve good results. Brad has already gained some experience with KTM in the Red Bull Rookies Cup. It all fits together. I believe we have a great package for next year.”