KIYONARI & BRIDEWELL SIGN FOR BENNETTS SUZUKI
Bennetts Suzuki has announced that triple British Superbike Champion Ryuichi Kiyonari and BSB race-winner Tommy Bridewell will spearhead the team’s assault on the MCE Insurance British Superbike Championship in 2016.
Announced at Motorcycle Live at the NEC in Birmingham today, the signings of both Kiyonari and Bridewell signal the team’s intent for 2016, with both riders proven contenders in the competitive series.
Kiyonari boasts significant BSB experience, with three championship titles to his name, while Bridewell has established himself as a regular challenger for race wins, after taking his first win in 2014 at Cadwell Park. Both will be aiming to add more wins to their respective tallies in 2016.
Kiyonari said: “I have been racing in the BSB longer than any other series in my career, so I am happy to be able to continue in the championship next year. I have raced the Suzuki GSX-R1000 for the first time this year at the Suzuka 8-Hour and it’s a great bike. I am happy that I am able to join Bennetts Suzuki for next year; the Halsall Racing team is a great team, and with the factory support I am confident that I will be racing for my fourth BSB title.”
Bridewell said: “I’m looking forward to riding for Bennetts Suzuki next season, and looking forward to enjoying my racing again. I’d had a few conversations with Martin [Halsall] towards the end of last season, and it became clear he wanted me onboard and I wanted to ride for the team. The team is capable of winning races and winning championships, and has a good structure in place; and that was important for me. I’m happy to be getting back on a Suzuki again. I started my career on a Suzuki and have ridden a few GSX-Rs in the past, and my brother rode a Suzuki as well, so we’re a bit of a Suzuki family. I’m excited about riding for them next season.”
Team Owner Martin Halsall added: “In Kiyo and Tommy we’ve got two riders who have proven they have what it takes to run right at the very front in BSB, and as a team we’re looking forward to getting started. It was our first year with the GSX-R1000 last year but now we’ve spent some time learning the bike and gathering data and information; in 2016 we’re aiming high. Our target is to get both riders into the Showdown and hopefully be in a position to challenge for the title come the final round. We’ll work hard to get the bikes prepared over winter, ready for testing.”
More, from a press release issued by MotorSport Vision Racing:
Kiyonari and Bridewell form Bennetts Suzuki ‘dream team’ for 2016 MCE BSB
The Bennetts Suzuki team have revealed their all-star 2016 MCE Insurance British Superbike Championship line-up at Motorcycle Live at the NEC Birmingham today (Monday) of three-time title-winner Ryuichi Kiyonari and race-winner Tommy Bridewell.
Entrepreneur Martin Halsall’s team have enjoyed a meteoric rise through the British championship structure since their debut season in 2011 and are determined to battle for a place in the Showdown for the first time with their strengthened rider line-up and continued official backing by Suzuki GB, the Bolton-based team are confident about their forthcoming campaign.
Kiyonari is one of the most successful MCE BSB riders of all time, celebrating three titles and an incredible 50 race wins in the championship and is hungry for a new challenge next season. The Japanese contender is relishing the switch to Suzuki, having claimed a podium finish for the manufacturer when he first experienced the GSX-R1000 at the prestigious Suzuka Eight Hour event this year.
Bridewell has previously made an appearance for the Halsall Racing team during the 2013 season, claiming the Bolton-based team their first podium finish in MCE BSB at Cadwell Park. The Devizes contender has qualified for the Showdown in three of the past four seasons and has secured a best result of third place in the overall standings. Bridewell made his debut in the Superbike class with a Suzuki and is revitalised for the new challenge in 2016.
Kiyonari said: “This is a new challenge for me – a new team, a different bike and I think this is what I needed for next year. I have spoken a lot with Martin [Halsall] and some of the team members and I am really excited for the first test, the first event and the first race.
“I have only raced a Suzuki at the Eight Hour and it was a good bike, so I am excited about our first test. The Suzuki is a really good package and the bike has similar characteristics to what I have raced with other manufactures in the past. I know it won’t be easy because it never is, but the team is strong and we want to be on the podium and win races.
“I am training really hard here [in Japan] and when you have a bad year like last season it makes me more determined to change it. I want to come back and fight again. I think this change will help me to do that so I need to thank Martin and the team. Racing is my life and I am really happy to stay in BSB next season.”
Bridewell said: “To be honest I am genuinely feeling really refreshed about next season and motivated to get the season started. I really haven’t been this excited about the start of a championship for a long time and when I rode for Martin’s team before we had some real success and that was when they were relatively new to the series so they have the same ambition to succeed and I think they have the pedigree to achieve it.
“I have joined this team because I feel like they give me the most excitement and they are really motivated for the new season. I didn’t have the best time last season and I am looking forward to putting 2015 behind me and I am chomping at the bit to get started on 2016!
“I am also really looking forward to working with Kiyo because of his approach to racing and I think that I could learn from him, so I think the whole mix we have of team and riders is fantastic.
“I am looking forward to riding the Suzuki; it has been a long time since I last raced one back in the Superbike Cup days and before that with my brother Ollie, so that gives me even more motivation to succeed. I began my Superbike career on a Suzuki so it feels really good to be back.”
For more information visit www.britishsuperbike.com