Kawasaki Pucceti team has signed Lucas Mahias who is the 2017 World Supersport Champion for the 2021 World Superbike championship and he is to take Xavi Fores’ place.
Mahias has been racing in the World Supersport since 2014 and he later on in 2017 went ahead to take the World Supersport championship with the GRT Yamaha team. He has also made selected Moto3 outings in the early parts of the last decade.
The french rider moved to Pucceti Supersport team back in 2019, after losing last year’s title to Sandro Cortese and has enjoyed two supersport seasons with the team. He currently sits in the second position in the Supersport championship with only the Estoril run remaining to finalise the 2020 World Supersport season.
Pucceti Kawaski have now decided to give the opportunity in the WorldSuperbike class for 2021, replacing Xavi Fores who had announced last week that he will be parting ways with the team just after one year. Fores was previously racing for Barni WSBK Ducatti from 2016-2018, but was asked to give way for Michael Reuben Rinaldi and spent a year out of WSBK before securing his seat with Pucceti for 2020 season.
“I’m excited to be able to compete in WorldSBK,” Mahias said. “That was always my goal, and to move up with the Kawasaki and Puccetti Racing is absolutely fantastic.
“I’ve competed in two Superbike races in the past and have ridden a 1000 in Superstock and in World Endurance, but I know that the ZX-10RR is a very powerful and competitive bike, and I can’t wait to get on it.
“I had two aims in my sporting career, the first was to become WorldSSP champion and the second is to win the Superbike World Championship.
“Having achieved the first, I’ll now do everything I can to obtain the second too. I know it’s a very tough championship, but I’ll have a great team and a competitive bike on my side. I want to thank Manuel Puccetti and Kawasaki for this amazing opportunity.”
The Puccetti outfit has been struggling in the 2020 WSBK season as they only have one bike on the track. Fores has been able to make to the top 10 only twice in the 7 season openers. This results are contrary to last years results when Toprak Razgatlioglu who is currently Factory Yamaha rider scored two wins and ten podium finishes and helped the team score the indepedent title.
“I’m pleased to announce that we have decided to promote Lucas Mahias from Supersport to Superbike next year,” team boss Manuel Puccetti said.
“Supporting our riders from the Stock or Supersport classes right up to the top class is part of our team’s DNA and is something we have previously done with riders like Franco Morbidelli, Michael Ruben Rinaldi, Randy Krummenacher and Toprak Razgatlioglu.
“I’m convinced that Mahias is a real talent, a solid rider who is always highly motivated. Racing in Superbike has always been his dream and so I’m sure he’ll put in maximum effort to achieve the best results.
“On our side, we’ll do all we can to help him adapt to the new bike and the new category, without applying any pressure. As soon as we have a 2021 calendar, we’ll schedule some tests so that we’re prepared for the new season.”
