GEARLINK KAWASAKI SET FOR MCE BRITISH SUPERBIKE DEBUT WITH WILSON The Gearlink Kawasaki team will increase their presence in the paddock next season after announcing their debut in the MCE Insurance British Superbike Championship with Ben Wilson as the team prepare to contest the premier class in addition to the Motorpoint British Supersport Championship. The team finished runner up in last season’s Supersport title race, scoring 28 podiums including an impressive 10 race wins, and are now focused on their progression into MCE BSB as they prepare to enter their milestone tenth season in the British Championship paddock. Boston-based Wilson returns to the premier class for the first time since 2006 having been a title contender in the Supersport series with Gearlink Kawasaki for the past five seasons, missing out on the title in 2011 by just a single point. As one of the most established teams in the paddock, Gearlink will continue to also be represented in the Supersport class with reigning Pirelli National Superstock 600 champion Luke Hedger, who returns with the squad in 2014. He is paired with Glenn Irwin, who joins Gearlink Kawasaki for the forthcoming season. Wilson said: “I’m so excited about moving up into the Superbike class for the 2014 season and I would like to thank Michael and Norma from Gearlink and everyone involved with the team for this opportunity. It’s a new challenge and goal for me and something I am really looking forward to. I have been in the Supersport class for five years now and it’s time for me to move up and have a really good go at it. I will be fully focussed on the job in hand and I hope between us we are more than capable of being competitive and getting some good results.” Team owner Michael de Bidaph concluded: “We are very excited about moving up to the Superbike class next year and also to have Ben onboard the bike. I feel the time is right for both the team and Ben to move up to the MCE BSB Championship, but also realise it is a big step and it will be a tough job! “The signing of Luke and Glenn to compete in the Supersport Championship next season is also an exciting prospect. I feel that British Supersport has proven to be a highly competitive series over the past few years and with these two young riders I believe we can be competing up there with the best!” For more information please visit www.britishsuperbike.com