La Marra to debut the STK 1199 Panigale with Barni Racing

The Barni Racing Ducati team, runner-up last year with Danilo Petrucci, has confirmed that Eddi La Marra will line up alongside Lorenzo Savadori in the 2012 edition of the FIM Superstock 1000 Cup. The 22-year-old from the outskirts of Rome has already raced with the Lombardy-based squad during the Winter Trophy held in December at Vallelunga on a 1098R (photo).

For the 2012 season, which gets underway in Imola at the start of April, La Marra will be one of the first riders to get his hands on the brand-new 1199 Panigale, with which he will make a first shakedown test at the end of February at Vallelunga. La Marra has come off the back of two difficult seasons in Superstock 1000 with Honda Lorini, his best result being a sixth place at Portimão in 2010.

"I am very happy about this new adventure with Barni Racing Ducati" declared La Marra. "I'm training harder than I've ever done in the past to prepare for the start of the season. I'm curious to test the new bike, which will be delivered to the team in a few days time. I'm going to have to wait to the end of the month to test it, but Ducati have already told us that it a very competitive bike. I'll be giving 100% and even more, and the fact that I'm racing with such a top-level team makes me even more optimistic. I know I can do well."