Long time 125 and 250GP rider Jacob Smrz is set to switch to the World Superbike championship in 2007 after reaching a 'basic overall agreement' with the SC Caracchi team.
The 23-year-old Czech made his grand prix debut as a wild-card in the eighth-litre class back in 1998, before riding his first full world championship season in 2001. Smrz then graduated to the 250cc class in 2003, where he remained until the end of last season, but was unable to claim a podium finish in either class.
Smrz now expects to ride a two-year-old ex-factory Ducati 999F05 in what looks like being a one rider team. SC Carrachi has a long history in WSBK, and ran Roberto Rolfo last season (lower picture), but was absent from the recent 2007 entry list.
The new WSBK season starts in Qatar on February 24.
Bah tout ce que tu dois retenir c'est que Smzr roulera sur une Ducati 999F05 du team SC Caracchi cette année après 3 ans en 250cc sans avoir obtenu de podium. Un accord de principe a été signé. Il devrait être le seul pilote dans ce team.