Carrasco gains Provec Racing backing for title defence

Ana Carrasco will team up with reigning World Superbike champions Provec Racing Kawasaki to run her World Supersport 300 entry as she aims to defend her title in 2019.

Last year Carrasco secured a historic title with DS Junior Team, becoming the first woman to win a solo motorcycle world title, and returns to the World Supersport 300 grid for 2019 to defend her crown running the #1 plate.

Carrasco’s achievements convinced Provec Racing team boss Guim Roda, who runs the World Superbike factory Kawasaki squad of Jonathan Rea and Leon Haslam, to provide backing to the 21-year-old for this season.

“Last year’s result was spectacular, and after the tenacity and determination of Ana,” Roda said. “We were left with no choice but to set up a project tailored for Ana to help her become a world reference and an example for all women who follow the “yes, I can,”

“We find ourselves morally obligated to set up this project, and there’s a very high responsibility weighing down on us to repeat last year’s results. We are going to build up a team of people around Ana that will help us achieve the objective.”

Following a frantic end to 2018 as World Supersport 300 champion, and the added media attention with her historic feat, Carrasco says she was always keen to secure the best possible package to defend her title.

“In first place, I am very pleased to continue being a Kawasaki rider. I’d like to sincerely thank all the work performed by the DS Junior Team in 2018, in which we were champions,” Carrasco said. “In spite of all the Public Relations activities of these last months after becoming world champion, my priority has always been to find the best technical resources in order to face the 2019 season.

“I’ll be wearing the #1 and that means that the pressure will be extremely high, we’ll see if we are capable of being at the highest level again.”

The 2019 World Supersport 300 championship gets underway at Aragon on April 5-7 to start the nine-round campaign which concludes in Qatar on October 24-26.