Simoncelli keen but unlikely to make WSB wild card appearance

Reigning 250GP World Champion Marco Simoncelli has expressed his desire to compete as a wild card in WSB in 2009 following a brief but successful test on the new Aprilia RSV4 Superbike in Valencia last month.

The 21 year old Italian has committed to another season in 250GP riding for the Metis Gilera squad and has already been targeted by Ducati and Yamaha for a switch to MotoGP in 2010.

It’s thought that Simoncelli is keen to gain more four stroke experience and see’s the Aprilia Superbike project as the ideal solution.

Simoncelli said: “We spoke about riding at the opening two rounds of the series at Phillip Island and Qatar and my answer was yes.”

Following Simoncelli’s initial comments, Giampiero Saachi (Piaggio Group Vice President) has stated that he’d also like to see the 250 man on the Aprilia Superbike but at this stage will not commit to it happening.

He said: “To see Simoncelli on SBK would be very interesting, but to run three riders and 6 machines is too hard for us at the beginning of our first season with the bike in WSB. At this stage we Simoncelli will not race in Australia and Qatar.”