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Loris Baz sets his sights on the upcoming World Superbike 2013

Wednesday, 9 January 2013 16:16 GMT
Loris Baz sets his sights on the upcoming World Superbike 2013

Loris Baz has turned a lot of heads since he stepped in for the ill-fated Joan Lascorz last May at Donington Park, making his debut in the eni FIM Superbike World Championship on the KRT's factory Ninja ZX-10R. Despite his late arrival, the young Frenchman was able to put up some strong performances over the course of 2012 - including a superb maiden victory under adverse weather conditions in Silverstone Race 1 and three overall podium finishes - that secured him a contract extension for the upcoming season.


The 19 years old from Sallanches, a small town located in the Haute-Savoie department, is now eager to start 2013 season, fully motivated to improve and to continue his learning curve in World Superbike. 'Honestly, I feel really good and so I am looking forward to next season' said Baz. 'I need to feel like family with the people I work with, and I felt it straight away in Kawasaki; first in Superstock, and then later with the Superbike. It wasn't easy to join in the middle of the season but I took it like it was the opportunity of my life and I couldn't ask for a better result when I look forward now'.


After claiming the European Superstock 600 title at only 15 years of age, Baz had his ups and downs on the way to the Superbike World Championship, but at the same time he managed to build up a wealth of experience and a strong will to succeed. 'I think if everything comes easy to you and you don't have to fight for it, then you don't appreciate the opportunity as much' he continues. 'I know where I am and I know where I want to go, I just have to do the right things to get it'.


'I joined World Superbike at the age of 19but I already had six years on a four-stroke bike, four years on a 1000cc and already some experience of a Superbike machine in the 2011 British Superbike season. This helped me a lot to understand the KRT bike, even if it's again totally different to ride from anything before!'


The season ahead of Baz might come along with some new challenges but the Kawasaki Racing Team rider wants to keep his mind free from pressure and take each race as it comes, in order to show his abilities with dry track conditions as much as he did last year in the wet. 'I don't have any pressure. I just want to try my best and I think if we try our best we will have a good season. I want to start the season with the same target as I finished this one, taking it race-by-race and trying to score my first dry top five finish as soon as possible. Then I will try to stay at that level, and improve even further'.