2008 SPORTS

BIREL PRESENTS THE 2008 MOTORSPORT TEAM

Birel makes the 2008 staffing level for the racing Department (Birel Motorsport) official.
On the drivers’ side, a marked orientation towards youth has been confirmed, also emphasized by the promotion of Toman Libor to official driver in the premier class (with a biennial contract).
Next to the Czech driver from KF2, where he was a player in the Pietro Sassi New Team, is Sauro Cesetti.
The driver from Le Marche offers a guarantee in terms of results and technical material development.
Next to Francesco Laudato in the (KZ1) top shifter class, the Frenchman Thomas Mich, who for several seasons has made himself known in the Birel-MGT team as one of the most interesting young drivers in the category, has been promoted to the official team.
On the other hand, despite the enthusiasm and willingness of Birel management, it was not possible to come to a contract agreement with Manuel Cozzaglio.
The KF2 class will be entrusted to Giacomo Patrono who has guaranteed a noteworthy technical contribution as tester, having always been ready and on top of the situation even when he was employed as the official Monza driver.
Patrono will take part in all of the most important races in the international season carrying the blue and silver Monza colours.
Beside Patrono in the KF2, two young drivers will be lined up, both with Birel colours: the first is the European KF3 champion, Jack Harvey, while the second is the Swiss, Zoel Amberg who, in 2007, raced in the KF3 with Monza colours.
The employment of the Englishman, Harvey, who is tied to Birel with a biennial contract (with the intention of moving into the KF1 in 2009), symbolizes the concrete plan to internally grow the drivers who will be lined up in the future premier class.
For the European Championship and the World Cup, the Englishman Michael Simpson, a great player in the 2007 European Rotax and the latest 100 FA English Championship trials, will be integrated into the group of KF2 drivers.
Besides the directly managed drivers, Lissone will also support a further group of pilots with specific initiatives, managed by external teams in all classes.
Among these, particular mention is given to the KF2 World Cup winner, Michael Ryall, who will debut in the KF1, remaining in Paul Lemmens’ GKS team.
Maring Burkhard (team KSB) will also be committed to the KF1 while in the KF2 there is great anticipation for the debut of Matteo Viganò (team MGM), recently awarded the Autosprint Gold Helmet.
The 2008 season will also bring new developments in the technical staff.
In fact, Simone Fumagalli who was head of the racing department for three seasons has announced that he wishes to leave the role.
The decision is due to personal problems that require his disengagement from a role that was very absorbing and involving.
Fumagalli will still guarantee his cooperation with Birel, although in a lesser manner, through several initiatives that are currently being defined.
Technical responsibility for the Racing Department has therefore been passed to Mariano De Faveri who worked beside Fumagalli in this role in 2007.
Sports management for the team has been entrusted to Roberto Voltan.

TECHNICAL STAFF

M. DE FAVERI	R. VOLTAN
M. ANDRECHEN	G.BIANCHI
N. BIASETTO	C. DIONISI
A. MACKAY	J. P. ZILIO
L. PEZZATO