Gino Rea loses Moto2 ride

British rider Gino Rea has been left without a ride in 2013 after the new ESGP squad abandoned plans to race in the Moto2 world championship.

Rea, who scored a stunning podium in a rain-lashed Malaysian Moto2 race at Sepang last October, had signed to ride for the ESGP squad using a British-built FTR frame.
The ESGP squad was given a late entry on the Moto2 grid for 2013 and Rea tested for FTR in Spain before Christmas.

But a lack of funding has seen former Gresini Moto2 rider Rea release a statement earlier today confirming he is out of a ride.

The Londoner said: “I verbally agreed to ride for the team at the end of last year and everything was looking good to go using the British built FTR. As it’s a new team, it was hard for them to get an entry into Moto2 but they managed it.

Unfortunately the team failed to secure enough budget to complete the 2013 season and we lost our sponsor Crimea GP. It went downhill from there and now they’ve pulled the plug and I’m left with no ride.”

Rea had started his preparations for 2013 by joining double World Superbike champion James Toseland and Moto2 rookie Danny Kent on an intensive winter training regime.

He added: “I’ve been working hard to prepare for this season and have been training with James. Fitness-wise, James was always the fittest in the sport, so to train with him has helped me even more to prepare physically and mentally.”

With little time to find an alternative ride, former World Supersport winner Rea is still hopeful that he can secure a seat in the near future.

He said: “If I can find a sponsor or raise some funds we could continue but it’s getting very late. If I were to find a ride in World Supersport or World Superbike I would have to miss the first race because it starts so soon and the bikes are in the crates on the way to Australia. If anyone can help me you can email me at rearacing@sky.com“