Daddy, Can I Race a Ducati Desmosedici?
You could be forgiven for never having heard of Karel Abraham. Ducati News Today had never heard of him either. He has never stepped on a World Championship podium despite five and a half seasons on 125, 250 and now Moto2 machinery. However the former alpine skier will join the big time next year when he will race a Ducati Desmosedici in MotoGP. How? Why? His father is bankrolling the deal.
It turns out that Karel’s Dad, also called Karel is the owner of the Brno circuit in the Czech republic, the site of next round of the MotoGP series and his influence is a major factor in a 6th Ducati making it to the grid next year.
The 20-year-old has never claimed a single podium finish in 87 Grand Prix starts but his father has massive financial clout and is heavily subsidising the deal.
link: MCN
Abraham has rarely broken into the top ten in his Grand Prix career which saw 2 seasons on a 125 before moving up to 250′s in 2007. This year he is campaigning in Moto2 and has a best qualifying result of 11th. Perhaps he is peaking since he finished 4th and 5th in his last two outings and he is reported to have impressed when he tested a factory Desmosedici GP10 at Mugello recently.
Buying a ride is nothing new but it will be sad if all he has bought is the opportunity to run around at the back of a grid and deprive someone with more talent of an opportunity. This news brings the grid to 18 bikes for 2011 with the 6 Ducatis equalling the number of Hondas.
If you liked this post please consider becoming a Fan of Ducati News Today on Facebook.
Try These Related Posts:
Finishing 4th and 5th in Moto2 is no joke! I don’t think that qualifies him for the big show, but I think it says he has a tremendous talent. Too bad that his move to MotoGP is all about who his father is!
Good points Anthony! However negotiations for the Ducati probably occurred before he scored his more impressive Moto2 results. Although Abraham is currently fastest in FP1 for Bruno with half the session still to go!
Well, I’d say if his Father is paying for the entire bill, then he is not depriving someone else of a seat. The bike wouldn’t be on the grid without them paying for it, and at least it increases the grid size a little. I don’t really see a downside.
What do you mean you’ve never heard of him…I can’t believe that comment..Davies, Espargaro anyone ? He’s always been a privateer, never the best machinery, but why not have a crack at motogp as his 2010 moto2 rides are really not so bad.