MotoGP rookie Michael Laverty is optimistic a new chassis being developed for his PBM UK machine will enable him to make a big impact in the CRT class in 2013.
The experienced Northern Irishman was confirmed in Paul Bird's
MotoGP team along with Yonny Hernandez last week.
Colombian Hernandez will ride the same Aprilia ART machine used by
James Ellison this year, but Laverty's bike will feature a new chassis being developed by GPMS Technology.
The 31-year-old, who finished fifth in the British Superbike Championship this season on the Samsung Honda, will use the same Aprilia engine as Hernandez, but the unit will be fitted with a Magneti Marelli electronics system.
“I'm quite excited by it and hopefully the new chassis ends up being fruitful and we don't have to revert back to the Aprilia chassis; hopefully the new chassis being developed by the PBM team will be a step forward,” Laverty told
Crash.Net.
“The bike that James [Ellison] rode this year was fully supplied by Aprilia - the electronics, chassis and engine was from the factory.
“You need an Aprilia technician to make any changes to the electronics of the bike and it can be quite restrictive, whereas the bike I've got is the same engine basically supplied by Aprilia but we're housing it in our own chassis that's being built in the UK by GPMS, which is the company that used to build the chassis for Kenny Roberts' team.
“They've also done all the work for Ten Kate in
World Superbikes in recent years and have a lot of experience,” he added.
“They are building the chassis and then we'll bolt the control ECU in there - the Magneti Marelli system - which will be compulsory in 2014.”
Laverty has been brought in by Bird to spearhead the development of the team's CRT machine and the former British Supersport champion, now based in Wales, is confident he has the knowledge to successfully lead the project.
“It's all about looking to the future and understanding the electronics package and chassis this year and if the CRT rules change the year after with prototype engines becoming available, then we should be able to slot a Honda or Yamaha engine in there with the chassis and electronics package ready to go,” he said.