Cardion AB team launched in Prague

Cardion AB and Karel Abraham reveal team livery for the new season

Posted: 14 January 2011
by Visordown News

In a pale comparison to the unveiling of the factory Ducati team, Karel Abraham and the Cardion AB squad launched their privateer colours in Prague.

The MotoGP rookie lines up on the grid with the sixth of the Desmosedici GP11 fleet, speaking at the launch Abraham targeted the next testing session to reveal the first indication of how competitive he will perform this year. Commenting on his first experience on a MotoGP bike, Abraham said: "The bike is much more difficult to control and requires perfect physical fitness."

"Karel proved that he is a very fast rider," said crew chief Marco Grana, "He has a huge potential to do well right from the start of the season. Next year there will be a lot of fast riders in the premier class so it is clear that the competition will be huge. But in Valencia we showed what we are able to do." Abraham clocked a lap three seconds slower than the fastest rider, Jorge Lorenzo, but gained time on the second day finishing 1.7 seconds behind the 2010 MotoGP Champion.

With the inclusion of Abraham in the 2011 grid it marks the first Czech rider to compete in the premier class, which will see the Valencia Moto2 winner facing off against Cal Crutchlow for the Rookie of the Year honours.

After seeing the colourscheme of the factory outfit, how does the Cardion AB privateer team compare?


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Anthony DeVincenzo
Awesome!  GL Czech!

Posted: 14/01/2011 at 23:38


pyndman
This guy is financed by Daddies money, and is only there because of it. Fair enough I guess if you can afford it you can do it. But it worries me how it represents the premier class of bike racing being for those with money not talent, at the expense of those who can ride but have no sponsorship. It's always been that way maybe, but is it becoming too much so? Hope he does well to prove me wrong and for the good of the sport. 

Posted: 14/01/2011 at 23:39


mobus
pretty dull looking bike. pretty dull rider to boot.

Posted: 14/01/2011 at 23:41


Anthony DeVincenzo

If you call testing within 1.7 seconds of the champion no talent, you need your head checked!  Probably 1 or 2 % of the riders on the planet can do that!

As for premier class racers coming from money, show me one who isn't.  If you want to get to this level of riding you start young and with parents who have the pockets to do it. 


Posted: 15/01/2011 at 23:36


pyndman

Of course you need a certain amount of money to get to that level, even to get started, we're not talking about a pure meritocracy talent search show obviously. But you have to look at it in relative terms. And if you want specific examples of people coming from no money, Troy Bayliss for starters, Barry Sheene, Wayne Gardner, Troy Corser, Mick Doohan, I'm sure plenty of others too from more modest background. This guy is an ultra rich daddies boy, a bit different from someone owning a house or property to mortgage like was the case for Stoner.

Sure he did a good time. As I said all power to him, I hope he proves me wrong, he can obviously ride 10,000 times better than me and many others, I wouldnt for second say he has no ability, BUT, again we're talking relative terms. There is no doubt he would not have been promoted to the top class without daddy's bank account, and I'd say there are riders about who more deserve that place. 

If the fact that sponsor money being the reason you get a ride (with an obvious certain amount of talent included) doesn't bother you, I'd say you need your head read.


Posted: 16/01/2011 at 05:09


Pagik

Oh leave the poor lad alone. There is another bike on the grid. Which is after all what everyone wants (after the incessant whinging) that "there are too few bikes on the grid in MotoGP", and "it's not where near as good as superbike". YAWN. He's clearly got talent, maybe not enough to trouble the scorers on a regular basis, but if he doesn't get within 107% he won't race. End of.

Who cares where he comes from, or what his background is? I am sure he'll give 100% each round. And you cannot knock people for that. Or are we now only saying if you have had a "normal" upbringing, you can only have respect?


Posted: 16/01/2011 at 11:17


Mick White
Let no-one forget that Mike Hailwood was the son of a millionaire who bought him the very best bikes until he got a works contract.  But, of course, Mike proved to be the best in the world anyway..... 

Posted: 16/01/2011 at 22:16


Ben Cope
If you think the guys who race at the top tier of motorsports got their on talent alone, you're naive. Everyone, including Rossi, has been bankrolled by someone at some stage in their life..

Posted: 17/01/2011 at 10:16

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