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Manuel Puccetti recently sat down with WorldSBK.com at Round 8 in Misano with some exciting plans to discuss, namely a move into the WorldSBK category for 2017. Reigning Champions with Kenan Sofuoglu and leading the 2016 title in a 1-2 with Sofuoglu and teammate Randy Krummenacher, the move could be a new exciting step for the squad, who have proven time and again they have what it takes to win.

“Next month in July I will know if I can build this project,” explains Manuel Puccetti. “If we can put together a very good package – like the official team – then Marco Melandri is very happy to come with us.”

The veteran rider and WorldSBK Race winner would be an experienced coup for the new outfit as they look ahead into the possibility of making it a reality, with a lot to bring to the table after riding different bikes in the past and taking them to victory. So who could be his teammate?

“The main goal now is to fix it with Melandri in WorldSBK – one rider,” continued the Italian. “If we can do that then it could be possible to have two bikes, but we want to keep our feet on the ground. Our focus right now is one rider. If we can confirm that, we’ll see after.”

Puccetti have many paddock commitments already, with STK1000 and WorldSSP contracts signed with Turkish duo Toprak Razgatlioglu and Kenan Sofuoglu, plus San Carlo Team Italia in the FIM Europe Supersport Cup. Puccetti feels this could be too much if the WorldSBK move were to happen.

“We could keep the WorldSSP team the same, but we would probably cut San Carlo Team Italia,” said the Italian team principal. “At the moment we have 5 riders so if we were to add WorldSBK we would cut that down – maybe find space for one of them in the WorldSSP team. At the moment we don’t know, but we will know more in July!”

After Round 8 in Misano, the paddock begins July in Laguna Seca in California before the summer break, after which the future of Puccetti could look very different – and Marco Melandri could return to the WorldSBK paddock.