Talmacsi Testing with Pedercini WSBK Team at Sepang

After a moderately successful Moto2 season in 2010, Gabor Talmacsi has switched his focus to World Superbikes. Currently in talks with Team Pedercini, Talmacsi will be testing for Pedercini with a phalanx of other Kawasaki riders at the Sepang circuit in the middle of January. Though the Hungarian won a podium position at Motorland Aragon and finished the 2010 championship in sixth, he was left out in the cold after Speed Up pulled out of Moto2 for 2011, as did so many other teams with too few funds to go racing in 2011. Despite spending 2009 in both the 250 and premier GP classes, Talmacsi seems to have joined the list of riders unable to remain in MotoGP and looking for work in WSBK.

While plans for Talmacsi to ride for Team Pedercini in the WSBK championship have not been finalized, he will join as many as ten riders for a large Kawasaki test January 10-14, including already-signed Pedercini rider, Roberto Rolfo, who also left Moto2 as the number of seats decreased for the 2011 season. Tom Sykes, Chris Vermeluen, and Joan Lascorz, are also suggested to be testing Kawasakis next week, along with the members of the Pedercini Superstock team: Marco Bussolotti, Leandro Mercado and Bryan Staring.

In a previous press release from the team, Rolfo said, “I’m really very happy to return to the Superbike championship. My three years’ experience in this fascinating and competitive championship was unforgettable and I will try my best to improve my preceding results. I immediately established a good feeling with the entire Pedercini family. They are reputable professionals and we are on the same wavelength concerning next year’s targets.” If Talmasci becomes the team’s other rider, a teammate with some WSBK experience would lend a helping hand to the already well-qualified rider. Both 2010 Team Pedercini riders left at the end of last season, with Roger Lee Hayden moving back to AMA road racing and Matteo Baiocco to ride a Ducati in WSBK for Barni Racing Team.

However, the Talmasci contract is still in the works, with team owner Lucio Pedercini making it quite clear in an interview with Moto.it that, should the test not work out to the benefit of both, they are also in talks with Lucas Pesek for the available ride. Interestingly, he also alluded to the idea of running a three bike Superbike team and a three rider Supersport team, leaving room enough, possibly, for Pesek as well as Talmasci.