News

The FIM Supersport World Championship grid will feature two ORELAC Racing VerdNatura representatives next season, with the team announcing the hiring of young Italian talent Leonardo Taccini for 2021. The 18-year-old will race in all the European races as part of the WorldSSP Challenge Cup, teaming up with WorldSSP veteran Raffaele De Rosa.

Taccini, who turned 18 last September, will step onboard a Kawasaki ZX-6R for the first time in January testing, after competing throughout 2020 with the Leopard Impala Junior Team in the FIM Moto3™ Junior World Championship. Before that, he was able to prove his talent at a national level, winning multiple junior championships.

The new ORELAC Racing rider said on the announcement: “I’m very pleased because it’s a completely different championship to what I’ve been doing. I can’t wait to get started and test myself at a World Championship level, I’m already excited for my first test with the 600 bike. ORELAC is a team of hard workers who support young talents, that is very positive for me. I’m preparing myself physically for the new bike, which will be heavier and more powerful than what I’m used to. Everything will be new, but expectations are high and I’m getting ready to prove everything I’m worth.”

Team Manager Nacho Calero meanwhile, added: “He’s young and talented but has a long road ahead to adapt to the bike, the weight and power difference between Moto3 and WorldSSP is huge. We want to help him with everything. ORELAC is a team which always puts its trust in the new talents of motorcycle racing. Taccini has the tools to be a great champion and we’re very excited. We want to win the WorldSSP Challenge Cup.”

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