Moto2: Rest or retirement for Wilairot?

"Feem is not focused and does not have the necessary confidence to compete in the next few rounds of the championship"

13 Aug 2013

Wilairot, Moto2, German MotoGP 2013
© Gold and Goose

The Thai Honda PTT Gresini Moto2 team has officially confirmed that Ratthapark Wilairot will be replaced by fellow Thai rider Thitipong Warokorn for this weekend's Indianapolis round.

However, contrary to earlier reports that Wilairot has decided to retire, Gresini state that Honda Thailand has offered him 'a period of rest in order to recover his motivation for MotoGP'.

"Unfortunately at this moment in time Feem [Wilairot] is not focused and does not have the necessary confidence to compete in the next few rounds of the championship," said Alaksh Phornprapha, director of AP Honda.

"He needs to recover his self-confidence and find the motivation to achieve his goals in MotoGP.

"For the time being it is better for him to spend time with his family and his young son, so we have decided to replace him with another Thai rider that we have high hopes for in Thitipong Warokon, who will take over riding duties this weekend at the Indianapolis Grand Prix."

Warokorn is 24 years of age and currently competes in the Asian Championship. Indianapolis will mark his grand prix debut.

Wilairot - like Indonesian team-mate Doni Tata Pradita - has not scored a point in 2013.