The 2019 season was a down year for Mattia Pasini who, apart from filling in the gap here and there in certain teams when a driver was missing, did not find a machine to ride in a team as such. Since then, it has been a rout and unemployment for the 34-year-old pilot, because 2020 is not looking good due to lack of handlebars.
«All places in the Moto3, Moto2 and MotoGP World Championships have been taken, at the moment I don't have a bike”, said shyly Mattia Pasini last winter two months before the 2019 season began. However, the Italian wanted to clarify: “ I train as if I were at the start in Qatar. I am a professional and I live the life of an athlete. »
The Italian finally found what suited him by getting a job as a commentator at Sky Italia. He was able to intervene as a replacement rider in several Moto2 races: at Flexbow HP 40 Pons instead of FernandezAmong Petronas in replacement of Pawi, in the Ángel Nieto KTM team in place of Dixon and replaced Simone Courses at Tasca Racing. But due to bad luck, Tasca Racing, like Kiefer, lost its place in Moto2 for 2020, so another year of partial unemployment is expected for the unfortunate man. Pasini.
« Next year you can meet me on the beach”, said Mattia Pasini the grumpy one. However, from the paddock, certain voices are raised about the Italian rebel: “Pasini is in his bubble. The suit he wants to wear is way too big for him, because his wish is to absolutely be part of a top team. »
Finally, Pasini made the choice to take a year of forced vacation instead of signing with a team like Forward and prefers to patiently wait for the offer from a team where he will be better paid.
Until now, Pasini participated in 238 Grand Prix, he made his debut in the 125cc category at Welkom in South Africa in 2004, he achieved 30 podiums, he won the Argentine GP in 2018, at Mugello, at Sachsenring and at Phillip Island. At that time he was part of the Italtrans team on Kalex and fighting for eleventh place in the World Championship. He then hoped for a place in the Malaysian Petronas Sprinta team, but it was the Malaysian Khairul Idham Pawi which was preferred to him.
« I stay in touch with Mike Trimby, the CEO of the IRTA team association", told Pasini. “But there is simply no place for me in Moto2. However, I am always available. I am strong. If I receive a good offer, I will be happy to bring my experience and help a team " said Mattia.
« The only way I could continue racing would be if a Moto2 team made a bad decision with a rider and approached me to replace him. But I don't compromise on negotiations. I want a team with which I can win races and the championship. Clearly, for many teams, paying drivers are more important than fast drivers” said the pilot from Rimini.
A year ago, Pasini could not imagine joining another championship like the World Championship Superbike. " I'm still too young for that.", he smiled at the time. Pasini has since changed his mind, age helping... Last December, Mattia hoped for a place with Moriwaki-Honda, but the door quickly closed, destroying the Italian's hope of being able to return to the front of the scene.
In 2020, the veteran will once again be made available to the Sky Italia team and will appear as soon as the need arises. In 2019, he collected 35 points and finished 20th in the championship standings.
