American Taylor Knapp is planning to race the full British 1000cc Superstock Series and a partial schedule in the FIM European 1000cc Superstock Cup on a CN Racing Honda CBR1000RR.
“And we’re going to have the backing of Ten Kate Racing,” Knapp told Roadracingworld.com Tuesday. “The bike is going to be built in their shop and we have an engine program with them. It’s going to be pretty cool.”
Knapp had a busy 2011 season. He finished eighth in the AMA Pro Daytona SportBike Championship with a best race finish of fifth on his Vesrah Suzuki GSX-R600, placed seventh in the final AMA Pro Superbike race of the season on a privately-owned and nearly-stock EBR 1190RS, and claimed top-five finishes in the Metzeler British 1000cc Superstock Championship on CN Racing’s Kawasaki ZX-10R in spite of not knowing the racetracks.
“But I’ve never ridden a Honda,” said Knapp. “That’s the one brand I’ve never ridden during my career, but from what people say it should be pretty good. Plus, the team plans on doing a lot of testing during the off-season. We’re going to test twice in January, twice in February, a couple of times in March. Plus, whenever Ten Kate and Castrol Honda are testing we can go test with them.
“We ran K-Tech suspension last year [when Knapp rode CN Racing’s Kawasaki ZX-10R in selected rounds of the British 1000cc Superstock series], but I’m going to be back on Öhlins this year, which I’m really excited about.”
Knapp said that like last year the team plans to do selected rounds of the FIM 1000cc Superstock European Championship and if things go well the team is considering doing races in the British Superbike class at the end of the 2012 season.
“They’re a new team,” said Knapp. “Last year they started on 125s and switched to 1000s. They want to get a full year in on the 1000s before they try to go into Superbike.”
More, from a press release issued by CN Racing:
CN Racing join forces with Ten Kate Honda
Ambitious new race team, CN Racing, has signed an agreement to work with Ten Kate Honda for the 2012 season.
The Hebden Bridge-based team is intent on lifting the 2012 Superstock 1000 crown and, having secured technical support from indubitably the most revered Honda Superbike team in the world, are confident that with the Dutch-prepared 2012 Honda CBR1000RR Fireblade and CBR600RR machines at their disposal, they have every chance of continuing their race-winning form that they displayed in abundance towards the latter part of the 2011 season.
Three CN Racing Fireblades will line up on the Superstock 1000 grid next year with three talented riders, all keen to make their mark on the class.
25-year-old American ace Taylor Knapp remains with the team, the former AMA star from Michigan keen to show his potential in the British Championship having already made his mark with regular top five finishes often at tracks he’d never seen before. With more experience of the frenetic nature of British Superstock racing and a better understanding of the tracks, it really could be ‘Knapp Time’ in 2012.
21-year-old Glenn Irwin from Carrickfergus also remains with the team, stepping up to the challenge of racing a 1000cc machine having finished as runner-up in the 2011 Superstock 600 Championship scoring six podiums from eight finishes including three race wins. Having signed for CN Racing halfway through the 2011 season, a more settled year would doubtless bring the consistency Glenn needs to be a real threat for the 2012 championship.
18-year-old Danny Buchan has agreed terms with the team for 2012. The gifted youngster from Basildon finished third in the Superstock 600 Championship in 2010 before astounding the paddock last season scoring race wins and setting lap records on his way to the runner-up spot in the Superstock 1000 Championship in his first season aboard a 1000cc machine an impressive feat that is seldom achieved.
In the Superstock 600 class, 17-year-old Ulsterman, Andy Reid will ride the CBR600RR. Having scored his best British Championship result with a strong second in the 125cc class at Thruxton last season, Andy made the switch to the four-stroke 600cc machine towards the end of the year, finishing a hugely creditable sixth at the final round. With more track time on the bigger machine, expect big things from the likeable youngster.
Julia Taylor, CN Racing Team Manager
“We’ve reached an agreement with Ten Kate Honda which we’re all very excited about. With their experience and knowledge when it comes to getting the best out of both Honda machines, we’re confident we’ve got a strong package going into 2012. We’ve signed four very capable young riders, we’ve got a solid pre-season testing plan scheduled and we’re going all out to win. We’re also in talks with some exciting commercial partners and sponsors so we’re all set for a fantastic 2012 season.”
Dwayne McCracken, CN Racing Crew Chief
“We’re really pleased to be able to announce our partnership with Ten Kate Honda. The level of help and support they’ve pledged to us is fantastic, not only for this year but also looking ahead to 2013 and beyond with the opportunity to move into Superbike. Being part of their testing and development program is a real coup for us as a team. We’re also excited about our riders for 2012. Keeping Taylor and Glenn on board will help with the continuity in the team and having Danny Buchan agree to ride for us is great news he’s a talented young rider with a proven track record so we’ve three great riders in the 1000cc class all with a good chance of winning races.
Andy Reid will get his first full year in the 600 class with us and he’s already shown what he’s capable of on a less than competitive bike with the right machinery, I’m sure he’s capable of running near the front. 2012 is set to be a great year for CN Racing.”
Taylor Knapp, Metzeler National Superstock 1000
“I’m excited to be coming back to race in the UK and I’m really looking forward to working with CN Racing again this coming season. With the additional help from Honda and Ten Kate we should have all the right equipment and my goal is set on bringing the team and sponsors the Superstock 1000 title. I still have a handful of tracks I need to learn, but I am more than up for the challenge. I have never ridden a Honda before, so I can’t wait to jump on it and start pre-season testing. I’m just so happy to be back in the British paddock for 2012, the racing there is awesome.”
Danny Buchan, Metzeler National Superstock 1000
“I’m chuffed to have signed for CN Racing and we’ve now time to get some meaningful testing under our belts before the season starts. The deal with Ten Kate is exciting news for everyone and I’m confident that we’ll have the package we need to win. I’ve only one aim for 2012 and that’s to win the championship I came second this year and I want to go one better.”
Glenn Irwin, Metzeler National Superstock 1000
“After CN Racing stepped in to save my 2011 season and after scoring such strong results on their bike, I’m really happy to have the opportunity to step up to the 1000cc class with them. We had a run out at Mallory on a 1000cc machine and I was surprised at how manageable it was to ride and was only a couple of tenths off the pace of Danny [Buchan]. I’m looking forward to getting stuck into pre-season testing I’m sure I can adapt quickly to the Fireblade and with the support from Ten Kate I know we’ll have a package that can win races.”
Andy Reid, Metzeler National Superstock 600
“I’m looking forward to my first full season on a four-stroke machine. I’ve already seen how good the team is with Glenn in Superstock 600 and their knowledge and expertise with set-up will give me what I need to be competitive. The deal with Ten Kate is great news, too I really can’t wait to get out testing on the CBR600RR!”