Mattia Pasini takes cash-strapped Anthony West’s MotoGP slot

Mattia Pasini will make his MotoGP debut in 2012 having been selected to take the seat vacated by cash-strapped Anthony West in the Speed Master squad.

Fans of Aussie West were still trying to digest his shock announcement on Friday that he has given up the Aprilia CRT ride due to a lack of funding when the Italian squad confirmed 125 and 250GP winner Pasini will take his place.

Former factory Kawasaki rider West announced his pursuit of funding to secure the ride had failed in a message on his personal Facebook page.

He said without the financial support to continue he would most likely be retiring at the age of 30.

His message read: “I (ANTHONY WEST) will not race in moto gp this year or any other race because I can not find sponsorship to pay the SPEED MASTER team, Because all teams are asking for money from the riders only the rich can race in motogp / moto2 / moto3, I can not even afford to ride a year for free, As i have YET to be payed from… my former team MZ Germany Moto2 team.

“I had my car mx bike and my house for sale trying to keep the ride and even gave the house as a guarantee if I did not find the money but was not enough.

“I will most likely not race any more and will retune back to australia to find a normal job. Sorry to my fans.”