Mattia Pasini says MotoGP move a boost to recapture old form

The 26-year-old Italian has taken the Speed Master CRT ride that originally looked set to go to ex-Kawasaki MotoGP rider Anthony West before the Australian hit a funding shortfall.

Pasini looked like a rising star during his 125cc stint, but though he was an occasional race-winner in 250cc in 2008 and '09, his career stalled amid a series of team switches and poor results.

He admits his motivation suffered, and is confident he will be rejuvenated now he has secured a top-class seat.

"I'm happy because I think in this environment I'll find the stimulus I lacked in the last years," Pasini told Gazzetta dello Sport. "For many reasons the last two-three years have been very difficult. Problems arise, you lose motivation and make mistakes. Now I feel I have everything to do the best I can.

"I've trained like crazy because I don't want to also waste this chance. Together with my family, we have made an investment in responsibility: in order to get the results you need the motivation I lacked in the last three years. Now I'm convinced this environment will help me regain it. At one point I found myself at a crossroads and I even thought of changing completely and doing something else."

Pasini already has some MotoGP experience from testing with both the Pramac and works Ducati teams in 2009.

"I did some testing with the Ducati MotoGP bike and even went quick," he said. "But then we made different choices, and perhaps they were wrong. But I want to forget the past, get into this new adventure and try to erase the bitterness from the last seasons."