The fact his name appears in the provisional entry list released last 11th February could be considered as an important clue, but now it’s official: Gabriele Ruiu will contest full 2019 Supersport World Championship on the Honda of Gemar Ciociaria Corse, team formerly known as Lorini Honda. Ruiu will ride alongside his compatriot Alfonso Coppola and the season starting in one month at Phillip Island will be the first one of his career in a world championship.
Ruiu, who’s turning 19 on 16th May, was expected to ride in World Superbike with Team Pedercini Racing, but a misunderstanding about the economic aspects of the contract signed in 2018, when Ruiu raced in European Superstock 1000 with the Italian squad and replaced Yonny Hernández at San Juan and Losail WorldSBK rounds, led to the cancellation of the deal signed for 2019 season. Ruiu had already scratched the participation in WorldSBK in 2018, but the arrest of Grillini Suzuki Team Owner Andrea Grillini forced the youngster from Rome to join Pedercini Racing in European Superstock 1000, where he scored points in every race, many top-10 results and eighth position in final standings.
Now, former Moto2 European Championship rider Ruiu has the chance to debut in World Supersport with family-run Gemar Ciociaria Corse Team, lining up old, but still competitive Honda CBR600RR machines. The 18-year-old made the deal official by writing the following post on his Facebook page: “I’m happy to join Gemar Ciociaria Corse. I’ve immediately understood that Livio and Vincenzo (Lorini, the brothers owning Gemar Ciociaria Corse Team, ed) live for motorcycle racing’s sake and this is very important for me. It’s very tough to stand out in a strong pack like the World Supersport one, but I’m sure we’ll be competitive and score great results. I can’t wait to test Honda CBR600RR and start a new chapter of my career“.
Photo Credit: Coen Vleugels