Renewed RW-Idrofoglia Racing GP team ready for start of 2024 season in Qatar

The new Grand Prix season is about to begin. With a new look, the RW-Idrofoglia Racing GP team is ready for the start to continue the development of recent seasons with young talents Barry Baltus and Zonta van den Goorbergh in the Moto2 class. As usual, the season starts under the floodlights of the Lusail International Circuit in Qatar.

After a winter break of just over three months, the new Grand Prix season is already going to begin. Due to a large-scale renovation, the 5.38-kilometre Lusail International Circuit was on the calendar in November last year, now the circuit is traditionally the venue where the season starts again.

With a new main sponsor and new livery, the RW-Idrofoglia Racing GP team goes into the new season full of confidence. Having already shown what Barry Baltus and Zonta van den Goorbergh are capable of several times in 2023, the aim this season will be to build on that and take the next step in their development. While the Moto2 class remains the most heavily contested racing class in the world, the team and riders are highly motivated and prepared to take on the challenge.

Barry Baltus: “We had a good test in Jerez last week and finally we’re in Qatar to start the new season. Just a few months ago we were in Qatar as well so the memory is still fresh. We’ll have to see what the track conditions are like but it will be completely different with the new tyres anyway. I expect a lot from this season and with these new colours I am very much looking forward to it.”

Zonta van den Goorbergh: “After a short winter we are about to start the new Moto2 season again. The bike looks very good and we are definitely ready. The tests went well and especially during the IRTA test in Jerez we had three good days, so we are coming to Qatar with a very good feeling. It is always a bit of a question mark to see what the track conditions are because of the dust but either way we will do our best to start the new season the right way.”

Jarno Janssen – RW-Idrofoglia Racing GP team manager: “We are already ahead of the new Grand Prix season and it feels like we have not been home for so long since the last race in 2023. In particular, returning to Qatar is a bit strange because we raced there a few months ago. We had two tests in preparation with the first in Portimão being rained off so we were not being able to do much. On the contrary, last week the test in Jerez went very well where both riders showed that they have worked very hard over the winter. The result after those three days was very positive but we know that testing is a bit different from racing, still I expect a strong start to the season.

During the winter, certain things have changed around the team. Our partner Idrofoglia has become the new main sponsor, an Italian company specialised in agricultural irrigation systems. Last year we started together and this year we are extending that partnership, which we are very proud of.

Looking ahead to the Qatar race, I expect more than last year’s race, we didn’t score any points then. Given the preparation we have had, I expect to make a big step this weekend.”

As always, there will be a different time schedule compared to usual in Qatar. Click here to view it in Central European or local time.