The Hungarian H-Moto squad, is ready to uphold BMW honour during this year’s seven round FIM Superstock 1000 Cup which is set to begin at MotorLand Aragon in Spain, in less than a month.
H-Moto has expanded for 2014, retaining Romanian Robert Muresan (former GP and WSS rider) whilst adding talented young Italian Riccardo Cecchini (former STK600 rider) to their team. Both riders will compete on BMW machinery and are confident of a strong season after an extensive testing and fitness programme over the winter break.
Team Manager Kristian Keleman has clearly learnt from the team’s previous seasons which brought moderate success, and has set his sights on more than the occasional surprise this time around. The plan for the team is long term and H-Moto have their sights set firmly on the World Superbike championship in the coming years.
Kristian Keleman – Team Manager: “The long terms goal is for us to be running in World Superbike. We had an ambitious plan for this year but in the end we have decided that it is best to focus on challenging for top results in the FIM Supertock 1000 Cup and we will be putting all our efforts into supporting Robert and Riccardo. We have spent a lot of time in the winter break preparing the bikes but more than that we have given both of our riders a perfect platform to succeed by implementing a full physical programme which will continue through the year. Our testing sessions have also gone positively and both riders have been making competitive times. We have also been able to get to know each other and we are excited at what we can achieve this year. I want to thank all of our partners and supporters for making this season possible and we hope to win many new fans by the time the season ends.”
Over the past few weeks both of the team’s riders have been able to circulate competitively at a number of circuits in Spain and in H-Moto’s native Hungary, ensuring that every opportunity to arrive in Aragon for round one fully prepared has been taken.
Romanian rider Robert Muresan rode for the team in selected races last year and is delighted to have the opportunity to race with H-Moto full time. He also is looking to a long term future with the team.
Robert Muresan – Rider: “This is the first time the team has two non-Hungarian riders so I am honoured to join the team full time in 2014. I meet Ricci first time in Budapest, he is a good guy and I hope we will both make a good season. We both took part in a number of physical and mental tests in Budapest and we have been training hard. I want to finish as many races in the top ten and be at least within the top 15 in the overall classification. Looking to the future I want to move to the superbike class, I will be looking for the best solution to get there but right now it is H-Moto.”
Italy’s Riccardo Cecchini is no stranger to the World Superbike paddock either having contested the STK600 championship in recent years. Like Muresan, he has also made appearances within the World Supersport championship and is equally optimistic of his chances on his debut season on 1000cc machinery after a number of encouraging pre-season tests.
Riccardo Cecchini – Rider: “I am very satisfied with the test held in Almeria. As I hoped it was very entertaining and informative, and I had fun getting to know the guys from the team. On the first day of testing I didn’t feel very well on the bike maybe because I was trying different set ups from the earlier tests, but once we returned to the initial set up I found the rhythm and I managed to improve again. On the second day I managed to better my previous best lap time by 7 tenths and I made over a hundred laps. A bog thank you to the whole team for that they have done. I am looking forward to a strong start to the season in Spain.”
H-Moto will be the only two rider BMW team in this year’s STK1000 championship, and given the fact that the champion from the last two seasons was riding the German marque, optimism for a solid year are fully justified.
The opening round of the 2014 FIM Superstock 1000 Cup will take place on Sunday 13th April, before moving to the Netherlands and the Assen circuit a fortnight later.
