Terol to take career break after Althea split
Althea Ducati has announced it has parted ways with Nico Terol after just seven rounds, with the rider saying he will now take a career break following a difficult period.
The former 125GP champion made the switch to World Superbikes over the winter after struggling in Moto2, but his endeavour on the Althea Racing-prepared Ducati 1199 Panigale has not yielded the results expected.
With a best finish of sixth position, Terol is down in 13th in the standings, well behind team-mate Matteo Baiocco who currently rides up in seventh position. As a result, Terol says he has opted to take a step back and evaluate his career.
"I embarked on this challenge with great enthusiasm," he said. "I immediately had good feeling with the team and with the bike, right from the first tests, which made me think that I was regaining the right sensations with which to start going fast. But things got more complicated after some crashes and after an injury which put me a step back.
"I believe that, for the good of both parties, the best solution is for me to take a break. The team is working hard and I cannot repay their trust in this way, even if on my side I really wanted to be able to do well. I can only thank Genesio Bevilacqua and the entire team for these months spent together. Now I need to stop and reflect and find a way to get back to feeling like a strong rider and turn the page after the last very difficult 18 months."
Team manager Genesio Bevilacqua thanked Terol for his efforts over the first half of the year and hopes he can return to competitiveness soon.
"I want to thank Nico for this, albeit brief, relationship that we have had because, as well as being a rider, he has proved to be an extraordinary guy on a human level. We have tried together to find the path that would help him return to a high level and the team never gave up in trying to meet the rider's needs. It is sad but true to say that we have not met each others' needs.
"I want to wish Nico all the best for the future and hope that this period of uncertainty in his career will soon be behind him, so that he can return to being the great champion that he was and be happy riding a bike. Personally, but also on behalf of the whole Althea team, I wish him all the best."
