There won’t be Jules Cluzel in Puccetti Kawasaki pits. The Frenchman should have signed with the Italian squad due to NRT trouble, but rumour mill collided with reality, because it’s Héctor Barberá who will represent the team from Portimao Round.
The 31-year-old Spaniard will debut in World Supersport and “WorldSBK universe” after 267 races in MotoGP, where he raced in 125cc, 250cc, MotoGP and Moto2. The latter is where Héctor compited this year till Mugello GP, till he was arrested after a failed alcohol test and kicked out of Pons HP40 team.
Barberá boasts eight seasons in MotoGP class and 10 wins scored in 125cc and 250cc. Now he’s gonna join Hikari Okubo in Puccetti Kawasaki and here’s what he said about it: “I am really motivated and eager to get out on track again and I am lucky to be able to count on the Kawasaki Puccetti Racing team. I was able to visit their headquarters and I saw with my eyes how the team is well organised and I know they are a winning team. Manuel is giving me a huge opportunity and I would like to pay him back with good results. I want to win and I am training hard for this. I am happy. Both the team and I are in the same condition. We are really experienced and we have all the potential to do well. I would like to thank Manuel and Kawasaki for having put me in a situation to find my confidence again at a such an important moment for me.“