Avintia Racing team have announced that current rider line up of Loris Baz and Hector Barbera is set to remain the same in 2017. Barbera is currently P2 in the independent team classification and chasing down Pol Espargaro (Monster Yamaha Tech 3) in that particular title fight, with Baz having suffered through injury so far in 2016 but having shown his potential the year before – fighting for the title of top Open rider.
Hector Barbera: “I’m very happy because I think during the years we have been together, we’ve made great progress - and in only 3 years we’ve gone from 20th to being 7th in the championship – and on this bike. The team has grown a lot, we’ve grown together and I’m very happy to renew for another year – especially because we finally have quite a competitive bike, a bike we can dream about doing great things with. I have a very competent team, we’re like a family and we’re always looking for perfection with everything we do.”
Loris Baz: “The first thing to do is thank the team for wanting to keep me another year, because with some terrible races this year, it would have been understandable to not give me another opportunity. But I think we started well in pre-season and in the first few races we showed that I’m not bad. Now we have to concentrate on getting back to where we were and fighting with Hector. Having my future secure for next year takes a lot of pressure off, because after my injury it’s been very difficult and for that reason I want to say thanks because it’s a team where I feel very happy and I think we have a lot we can achieve. I injured myself at the worst moment – but the team have calmed me down and taken the pressure off. I just hope I ca thank them by doing the best possible in the last nine races of the year, and then even better in 2017.”
Agustin Escobar, Team Manager: “We’re very happy to keep Hector and Loris another year, because as well as good riders they are great people. Hector is already showing his potential and I think this season Loris will be able to get back his good feelings from pre-season – and has a lot more speed than he’s been able to show up until now. With new bikes next year too, I’m sure both will do much better.”