Despite this minor setback, the FTR Moto2 bike will be built within the next two weeks and Gino will begin testing in preparation for Le Mans Round 4 of the Moto2 World Championship.

2013 will see Gino ride for his own ‘Gino Rea Race Team’ nicknamed ‘GRR8T,’ with bike support from FTR and some funding support from his online supporters page www.GinoReaClub.com. Gino will head the only British built FTR chassis in the Moto2 class and is calling out for UK sponsors to support his all British effort.

Gino, a GP podium finisher in his debut Moto2 year, is desperately trying to keep his World Championship dreams alive after losing his ride on the eve of the official pre-season tests. Due to a lack of sponsorship the ESGP team Rea had agreed to ride for withdrew from the Moto2 Championship leaving Gino to find his own way. With the continued support of FTR and the generosity of Gino’s race fans, the Londoner has a starting platform to begin his Moto2 wildcard campaign.

Interested sponsors can see the coverage spaces on the GRR8T FTR Moto2 bike design and are urged to contact Gino Rea Race Team by emailing rearacing@sky.com

Ginos fans can help by purchasing merchandise, hospitality passes and lots more at www.GinoReaClub.com

Source: Gino Rea Official Website

He awas set to ride with the ESGP team, using a British-built FTR frame. After the team had been granted a late entry to the Moto2 grid, Rea already tested for FTR in Spain before Christmas last year.

Gino Rea: “I verbally agreed to ride for the team at the end of last year and everything was looking good to go using the British-built FTR. As it’s a new team, it was hard for them to get an entry into Moto2 but they managed it.

Unfortunately the team failed to secure enough budget to complete the 2013 season and we lost our sponsor Crimea GP. It went downhill from there and now they’ve pulled the plug and I’m left with no ride.

If I can find a sponsor or raise some funds we could continue but it’s getting very late. If I were to find a ride in World Supersport or World Superbike I would have to miss the first race, because it starts so soon and the bikes are in the crates on the way to Australia. If anyone can help me you can email me at rearacing@sky.com.”

Source: Bikesport News
Photo: Gresini Racing / Milagro

Gino Rea (12th) “Not how I wanted to end the season to be honest! We finished in the points but we should have been on the podium, minimum. I got such a good start that I thought I had maybe jumped it so I was half expecting to get a penalty. Maybe that distracted me, plus I also got hit a couple of times in the early stages of the race and lost positions when I should have been making them up. I worked my way through but got stuck behind Aegerter for too long, which was my fault. When the track started to dry I lost the front and crashed but thankfully at least I was able to rejoin and get some points. Overall it was a good and bad day. I’m just disappointed we couldn’t finish it on the podium.”

Fausto Gresini “We knew Gino was capable of a great result today and really give the team something to cheer about. Unfortunately he didn’t manage it but hats off to him for trying.”

Source: Gresini Racing Press Release

Gino Rea (20th 1’ 36” 687) “Unfortunately the position today doesn’t reflect the confidence I have found here with the bike and the base setting we have found. Espargaró is faster than everybody but we are only a second back from Marquez in second place so we have closed the gap. If we’d had more dry track time I think we could have improved even further but certainly if it rains tomorrow we can have another good race like Malaysia. It would be nice to finish the season with another good result for the team. ”

Fausto Gresini “Gino has improved his feeling with the bike again in dry conditions and that gives us optimism for tomorrow’s race. Obviously the best thing for him would be rain tomorrow and that’s understandable because he is irresistible in wet conditions.”

Source: Gresini Racing Press Release

Gino Rea (21st)
“It was a frustrating race because I got a decent start from the line but then lost a few positions in the early corners and even though I felt good on the bike I got stuck behind some slower riders. After that we had some problems with the brakes fading and that meant I couldn’t get into the corners as I wanted. It is tough because we have found a good base setting with the data from the race but we need to find this on a Friday. Now it’s too late but it is a question of time on the bike. Hopefully we can make better progress at Valencia.”

Source: Gresini Racing

Gino Rea (24th 1’ 36” 163)
“That was frustrating. We improved the bike, my pace and my feeling but on each of the three laps when we tried to push for a fast time before the rain came I ran into other riders waiting for a tow through the final two sectors. I think we could have easily been in the top eighteen riders or so but the important thing is we have found some improvements and hopefully we can make some more progress tomorrow.”

Source; Gresini Racing

Gino Rea (19th 1’ 36” 884)
“Not such a bad day today. We struggled in the first practice but improved the bike for the afternoon and closed the gap to the top ten. We still have some areas to work on and improve for tomorrow but my feeling is better and this helps my confidence. Hopefully we can keep moving in the same direction and break into the top fifteen tomorrow.”

Fausto Gresini
“The podium at Sepang has given Gino a boost and his determination to find a setting for the dry will be important. He’s close to lap times of the top fifteen but actually the top ten is not that far away either so if he keeps working with the same intensity tomorrow I think he can have a good race.”

Source: Gresini Racing

In wet conditions the British rider charged from 22nd position on the grid to lead the race when the red flags emerged, only for the result to be taken back a lap. Third place, however, was a welcome result and with uncertain weather predicted in Australia this weekend there could be the opportunity for further celebrations ‘Down Under’.

Gino Rea
“To come from 22nd on the grid and finish on the podium was an amazing moment for me and I am still buzzing off it. The problems that I have with the bike in the dry are vastly reduced in the wet so I can ride around them and perform to the limit of my potential. Now I want to show that I can do it in the dry too so that is the aim, working alongside the team. We will try our best to find a good setting for the bike in Australia and keep improving right to the end of the season.”

Source: Gresini Racing

Gino Rea came within a lap of victory at Sepang today but he was happy to settle for a first ever Moto2 podium finish when the race was red flagged just moments after he took the lead in torrential rain. Third place is a welcome recompense for a tough season so far for the British rider and he can now look ahead with renewed optimism to the final two races.

Gino Rea (3° 2’ 09” 021)
“What can I say? It’s an amazing feeling. We’ve struggled all year to get the bike working how I want it but in the wet I’m able to ride around the problems and finally after the crash at Le Mans earlier in the year we got another opportunity to fight for the win today. I almost went down a few times but made it to the end and it just feels fantastic. I want to thank all the guys in the team, especially my crew chief Fausto, all the sponsors and above all my family.”

Fausto Gresini
“I am really happy with Gino’s podium today, it’s just a shame the red flag came out when it did otherwise he could have been on the top step but this is racing and it’s a great result anyway. It was a great race although I could hardly watch it because I was so nervous! Well done Gino. Now I’d love to see him show his potential in dry conditions and finally get to grips with this bike.”

Source: Gresini Racing / Photo: motogp.com

Gino Rea (22nd 2’ 09” 021)
“It has been and up and down day but we have a lot of positives to take. We made a change to the bike this morning and it worked really well in the wet, then in the afternoon we found a good setting for the dry but I just didn’t manage to get a clean lap in during the available time. If I did I know we could have taken half a second off and that would have been good enough for the top fifteen. I believe we have the pace to fight for the points tomorrow so that’s the target.”

Fausto Gresini
“Unfortunately you can’t see it on the time sheets but today Gino showed more confidence on the bike today and I am confident he can have a good race tomorrow. Obviously if it is wet Gino could be very competitive as he showed this morning in the rain but the primary objective remains to find a good setting for the dry.”

Source: Gresini Racing