SPLITLATH REDMOND Aprilia has announced that John Laverty and Florian Marino will line-up for the new-look team in the 2012 British Superbike championship.
Following a difficult 2011 season, the Splitlath outfit has been revamped for 2012 with a new rider line-up and team set-up after securing the backing of former Olympic athlete Derek Redmond.
For Laverty, the signing marks his return to racing after a career-threatening crash at Oulton Park nine months ago. The 2008 British Superbike Cup champion suffered multiple broken bones, including his knee, ankles, both shoulders and pelvis.
Marino switches to the British Superbikes after a year racing in the World Supersport championship for Ten Kate Honda, in his rookie season he finished eighth overall. The Frenchman's career highlight also includes a runner-up finish in the 2010 European Superstock 600 Championship.
Commenting on his signing Laverty said: “When I first spoke to them last year I was quite taken aback that they wanted to sign me up given the injuries and the season I’d had. For me it was something special that they looked beyond last year and saw that it’s not all about the past season. Once I knew I had a ride in place it gave me a little bit more of a target to work towards.
"I imagine it will be a slow start to the season for me, but I will become stronger as it goes on and by the end of it we should be firing on all cylinders. We are all working towards the same goal – that is to grow over the season so by the end we really can be mixing it at the sharp end.”
Frenchman, Marino added: "I am proud to come and ride in such a high level internationally recognised championship as the BSB, I will approach this challenge with humility, take my time and above all finish the races thinking that each time I'll do better until I win.”
