Pere Riba commented: “I’m very happy to ride in MotoGP and to had received the opportunity to ride the 500 Yamaha in one of the best Official supported Teams. For me is an important bet in my sportive career. In Supersport I was on the fight to the title, and now I decided to give up to have a place in the MotoGP. It is a good moment in my life, the team offered me an opportunity and I don't think it to allow to escape. I’m an experienced rider with 4 stroke bikes that it is a value for my next future. But today I have to think in work as much as possible to improve the maximum in the minimum pre-season I have in the next days with the 500 Yamaha”.

Luis d’Antín, team owner, commented: “I’m very satisfied to have an agreement to incorporate Pere Riba to our Team. He is an experienced rider, and with a valuable maturity. We expect with the incorporation of this rider to have a team ready to achieve results in a short time. In the Supersport category Pere was fighting to the title, he knows how is the pressure of being on the lead. Now we have to work so hard to achieve the necessary adaptation to the team and the bike, in order to arrive to the first GP with the maximum preparation as could it be possible”.

Ten Kate Honda team manager, Ronald ten Kate was obviously shocked at Riba's last minute move, "I am absolutely stunned by his decision to quit," admitted ten Kate. "While I obviously wish him well on the 500 I am very surprised at the move, he had been going so well on the CBR and never once seemed unhappy in the team. Last year he was the model of responsibility, ethics and sportsmanship, so for him to leave us in the lurch like this seems very out of character."

It seems d'Antin hand was forced in the matter, as he relies heavily upon the sponsorship he receives from Spanish Oil giant, Repsol.

"Unfortunately it seems we are the victim of politics as d'Antin Repsol insisted that Criville should be replaced by another Spanish rider," confirmed ten Kate."

"The rest of the team are gutted by Riba's actions," he explained, "they've worked so hard with Riba and helped him to achieve the level he is now at. But we're not convinced that this is a good career move by Riba, especially because of the manner in which he has made it."

Riba's move leaves the team with less than a week to find a new rider ready for the opening race of the season at Valencia.

"We are already talking with a replacement rider and should be in a position to make an announcement very soon," confirmed ten Kate. "We very much regret that we may be forced into a situation where we have to poach a rider from another team. But we hope we can resolve any possible situation with another team amicably."

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NB:  The rumoured replacement for Riba in the Ten Kate World SuperSport Team is ex Kawasaki pilot Iain MacPherson