MotoGP: Ponsson replaces injured Rabat as Simeon gets GP17

French racer Christophe Ponsson will replace the injured Tito Rabat at the Reale Avintia Ducati team at the San Marino Grand Prix this weekend – but will take over the bike of second rider Xavier Simeon as the Belgian steps up to ride Rabat’s 2017 Ducati and leaves his 2016 machine for Ponsson.

Ponsson will be relatively anonymous to casual race fans, riding at the minute in the French championship. But Bennetts British Superbike fans may well remember the name from 2014, when he competed the second half of the season on the Alstare Bimota machine before making a move to the World Superbike championship with Pedicini Kawasaki for 2015.

“I’m super happy and excited. I really want to get on the bike. Racing in MotoGP is the dream of any rider and I still cannot believe that on Friday I will be on track with the riders I see from home every weekend. I always try to learn from them on TV and now I can do it on the track! I am happy! I am 22 years old and this opportunity is something incredible. I know it will be difficult and I will have to learn many things in a very short time, the bike, the carbon brakes, the Michelin tires, but I am willing to enjoy and learn. I will try to give my best on the bike and I hope to reward the team and all those who have helped me to fulfil my dream.”

But, with the GP16 aknlowledged as a difficult-to-ride machine thanks to being designed with Ducati’s radical winglets but stripped of them thanks to rule changes, Simeon is well aware that he too has the chance for a good result at Misano.

“The first thing is to wish Tito the best and fastest recovery, he is a great guy and I hope he comes back very soon. But I can not hide that I’m very happy to get on his bike. Tito has done great things this year and for me it is a great opportunity to get on the GP17, I will try to give the maximum and I hope to get as close as possible to his level. I want to thank the team and Zelos for making it possible. I hope that Tito recovers soon and I have to open full gas to take advantage of this opportunity.”