[kropotkin thinks...] - WSBK: Silly Season -- Smrz Signs with "New" Ducati Team

[Ninjette Newsbot]

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The Liberty CZ Group has simultaneously announced the formation of a new satellite Ducati team that will compete in the World Superbike series in 2011 and the signing of Czech Jakob Smrz to be it's rider for the next 2 years. Smrz, who was thought to have been on the shopping lists of a myriad of teams, has the reputation as a good qualifier that hasn't been able to back up his grid placements with consistent race results.

Liberty CZ Group's business interests include, fittingly enough, a chain of Italian food stores in the Czech Republic and Effenberg Beer, who is a partial sponsor of Smrz' current team, B&G Pata. The new team, "Liberty Racing", will reportedly be headquartered in Prague. Although the team is touted as all new, there are familiar faces behind the scenes, including Natale Egi, who managed the Sterilgarda Ducati team that fielded Max Biaggi and Ruben Xaus.