It was, as is often the case, a not terribly well-kept secret, but now it's official and Stefano Caracchi wil be running a two-rider team in world supersport and a two rider team in the European superstock 600 championship in 2008.
Caracchi, who has run a succesful Ducacti privateer team in both superbike (with Lorenzo Lanzi) and supersport (with Gianluca Nanelli) in recent seasons, has his eyes on at least one British rider in the team, although he admitted a lot depended on the title sponsor.
"We are talking to a couple of good sponsors at the moment and it is looking good but not certain. And of course the sponsors have a say in which riders will be selected for the team. At the moment I would say I would like to have an experienced development rider and a younger rider who could get on with the racing." Names mentioned included Paul Young and Craig Jones, but the French supersport champion Kenny Foray is also due a test in a couple of weeks. The Frenchman won the 2007 French supersport championship on a Daytona 675.
"In the European superstock 600 championship I would be looking at two young riders to develop and bring on and I've been talking to a few people about some 125cc riders who, in my opinion, are the best breeding ground for young talent, guys you can help bring on."

The first tests with potential riders will, said Caracchi, hopefully be at the end of October or early November. Will our man Paul Young get a ride as that 'development' rider? It makes sense to us.
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