Salom finds last-minute ride for 2011 in new Dutch team RW Racing GP

The news emerging in the last weeks that Dutch Molenaar Racing team was in serious financial trouble after several sponsors pulled out and the subsequent confirmation that they had to fold after all left their contracted riders Jasper Iwema and Spaniard Luis Salom suddenly looking for a new team. That the Molenaar team had to cancel all their activities in the MotoGP after successful 17 years in the championship – including two world titles by Haru Aoki in 1995 and 1996 – was due to the lack of TV coverage in the Netherlands, prompting several of their sponsors to retract their financial support when a new TV contract failed to materialize for the country. A last-minute frantic search for new sponsors to scrape together the 350.000 Euros now missing in their budget was unfortunately only partly successful and finally lead to the dissolution of the team. With the first official test of the 125cc and Moto2 season currently taking place in Valencia, Dutch rider Jasper Iwema managed to quickly sign a new contract on location and will ride for the CBC Corse team this season.
His former teammate, Spaniard Luis Salom, now also found a new team and will start his season at the next test in Estoril. The newly built Dutch team named RW Racing GP aims to fill the void that the Molenaar team left and to represent the country in the world championship. Founder and head of the team is Roelof Waninge.

Luis Salom: “I am delighted that I can still start after all. The last weeks have been true hell for me. As a rider you dont really want to worry about the team that you compete with, but unfortunately with the situation that we currently have in both the Dutch economy and the rest of the world it is increasingly difficult for the teams to find the necessary budget. My thanks go to Roelof who gives me the chance to show my full potential this year and that I can race together with my chief mechanic Hans Spaan and the rest of my mechanics. I would also like to thank my personal sponsors. It’s been a time full of uncertainty, but also because of it this is now possible. Onward to victory!”

Roelof Waninge: “We managed to create a new team and would like to thank everyone who expressed their confidence in us. As Luis says it’s been a bad time for everyone involved and I welcome back everyone back who found a new spot. I also have a very good feeling about next season. Hans Spaan, team manager Marlon Fluit and the mechanics are very motivated and the expectations are high! Let it begin!”

Sources: racesport.nl, motomatters.com
Photo: Molenaar Racing