The negotiations to finish configuring the teams of the main brands for the 2013 season are going heart-breaking. Although very The outlook will probably be very similar to this year, behind the scenes we can confirm that important drivers have been on the verge of making a 180-degree turn in their sporting career.
The only riders who had their futures firmly tied up before the end of the 2012 World Championship were Cabestany, Bou and Fujinami. On the contrary, the big unknowns were Raga and Fajardo. However, in this edition it was also necessary to count on other national protagonists, such as Jorge Casales or Pol Tarrés.
While the future of Pol Tarrés was cleared in the middle of last week in favor of Sherco, it is very likely that in the coming days the rest of the unknowns will be resolved. The key is Adam Raga. The reigning world runner-up has been the subject of a tough negotiation in recent months with his long-standing brand, Gas Gas, while other brands,
especially Scorpa,
have had very important approaches with the Tarragona rider. Throughout this time many saw Raga with other colors, however it seems that the waters have returned to their course and in 2013 we will see him fighting again on the Girona bike. Raga knows that It is their best alternative to continue aspiring to the maximum in the next season; He knows the bike, the team perfectly and the key points he needs to work on to be closer to Toni Bou.
Another rider who is almost certainly going to continue to be seen at the controls of a Gas Gas is Jorge Casales. The Galician has been, without detracting from Tarrés and Moret, He was the absolute revolution of the 2012 JR World Championship and is emerging as one of the riders with the most potential in the world. This talent, character and projection fits perfectly with Gas Gas’ sporting approach, which involves creating a school of international talents, most likely under the tutelage of Marc Colomer. Jorge would be the spearhead for this project, which required his permanent presence in Catalonia to train with the best in the context of an ideal plan so that he could reconcile studies and competition.
Under this same training plan would be the Swedish driver Eddie Karlsson
, also 17 years old like Jorge.
Outside our borders, it is the Frenchman Loris Gubian who will also continue at the controls of a Gas Gas and it only remains to be seen what happens with the British Michael Brown.
Text: David Quer / Photos: FIM / Monster
