World Superbikes: Regis Laconi confirmed at Kawasaki for 2008

Frenchman Regis Laconi has signed to ride for the Italian PSG-1 squad for 2008 and will have a new Team Manager in the guise of racing legend Virginio Ferrari.

Regis Laconi will enter his third consecutive season with the squad where he will campaign an all new Kawasaki ZX-10R.

Laconi joined the San Marino based PSG-1 squad in 2006 following two seasons on the factory Xerox Ducati where he finished runner-up to Hannspree Ten Kate Honda’s James Toseland in 2004.

Virginio Ferrari began working with the Kawasaki PSG-1 team at the Brands Hatch round of the championship and like Regis Laconi has signed to become the team manager in 2008.

Ferrari finished runner up in 500GP to Kenny Roberts in 1979 and later became the factory Ducati World Superbike team boss masterminding Carl Fogarty’s world titles in 1994 and 1995.

Speaking to MCN Regis Laconi said: “I have been speaking to the team about 2008 since before Brands Hatch.

“For 2008 Virginio will be full time with the team which is very important. He has a lot of experience as a rider and a team boss and can help the team work in a better direction.

“He also has a very good technical understanding which is important as with a new bike we have a lot of work to do.”

The Kawasaki World Superbikes team will also receive a boost in 2008 as they will be working together with the factory’s MotoGP effort in a new racing centre based in Holland.

Regis Laconi said: “This is very good for us. One main area we are behind is the electronics and if we can work with the MotoGP team on this we will be able to make some very good progress.

“At the start of this season we were close but where the other teams improved a lot we have not made enough progress.”

The PSG-1 team currently use Pectal PI electronics where as the MotoGP team uses the Italian Magneti Marelli system which is the benchmark in both MotoGP and World Superbike.