New Team HRC rider Xavi Vierge has confirmed a move from Motꦛo2 to WorldSSP was never on the cards after mak💦ing the jump directly to WorldSBK. 

Vierge has departed Moto2 after spending seven seasons in the intermediate grand prix class, seven years thཧat saw the Spaniard collect a total of four podium finishes. 

However, unlike former Moto2 riders And🦩rea Locatelli, Philipp Oettl, Lorenzo Baldassarri and Nicolo Bulega to name a few who have swapped said series for WorldSSP, Vierge instead went directly to Wo🧔rldSBK as did Hafizh Syahrin who later joined MIE Racing Honda. 

When asked about by-passing WorldSSP for the premier class, Vierge alluded to the recent increase in power of Moto2 bikes being p🥀art of the reason in his decision, des෴pite it remaining a challenging adaptation to make: "For sure it will be a challenge (Switching Moto2 for WorldSBK), but I think with the new Moto2 category the bikes are a bit more powerful than Supersport bikes; I prefer to make the jump in WorldSBK because it’s a step forward. 

"The first thing I did🌳 was to get a new Honda, try to make as many kilometres as possible and to adapt to the new category. It’s completely new for me. The power is much, much more than a Moto2 bike. But the team is amazing and they helped me 🉐a lot during the first test."

Vierge, who is joined by former MotoGP rider Iker Lecuona at the Japanese manufacturer for the 2022 season, will form half of the younges🎃t full factory line-up on the ꧂grid, which for Honda is a significant change given they had Alvaro Bautista (37) and Leon Haslam (38) on the bike during the last two years.

Although Bautista and Haslam’s level of experience is ideal for a new project, a new bike, Vierge believes his and Lecuona’s more youthful side has re-energized the team, while younger riders are only getting faster and faster based on pr🦩evious seasons.  

"The team already tried having two riders with a lot of experience which for a new bike is really great to have," added Vierge. "B🧸ut if you check the grid▨ every year more young riders are coming and are going fast. 

"For example Locatelli, Toprak [Razgatlioglu], Rinaldi, there are many of them. So, they changed a bit and they wanted to have two young riders with a lot of energy and𝔉 with a lot of power to keep going𒆙. 

"When we arrived at Jerez everyone was feeling like that. It was very pleasant and everyonܫe was very excited to have two young riders ♌with that spirit and energy."