Tristan Palmer and David Johnson have signed for GBmoto Racing to compete in the Metzeler National Superstock 1000 series in 2011, riding Honda CBR1000RR’s supplied by Tippetts Motorcycles. The team, which already has a winning pedigree in the long-form Endurance discipline, is embarking on a five-year racing programme to progress through the British Championships, beginning with their comprehensive pre-season testing schedule beginning this month. With new workshops already in place in Sussex, the team expects to be on the pace from the very first round over the Easter weekend. Chassis are currently being built up by the team’s full time mechanics while the engines are being prepared by Shaun Muir Racing. GBmoto has retained many of the people who helped them to win three UK National Endurance championships and has added experienced BSB mechanics to the fold to ensure they are just as competitive in the shorter race formats. Team Principle Mark Smith-Halvorsen is very happy with his rider signings and talked about the year ahead, “We began serious planning for 2011 in the spring of last year and then spent the rest of 2010 watching and talking to riders at the BSB races. We believe we have two of the very best in Dave and Tristan and expect both of them to be very competitive in the Superstock 1000 series. After securing the right budget we have since worked systematically at building the right relationships, knowledge, and equipment to ensure that we put the best machines under them. Whilst we are focused on everything that needs doing here and now, we have one eye on the future as we plan to progress through the British Championships in the next few years”. The team’s new title sponsors are Global Reach Partners, a City-based commercial foreign currency broker. Their CEO Stewart Blake explains their involvement, “We have a passion for competition and see motorsport as an important ingredient in our varied corporate hospitality programme. The racing and the facilities now on offer at BSB allows it to compete with pretty much any other option as we look for opportunities to offer our clients and staff the sort of day they never forget”. The team’s vans, truck, and motorhome have been made available by Kent-based transport company May & Newman Ltd., who are also keen to attend the meetings on a regular basis. Smith-Halvorsen has also secured support from Ohlins, Silkolene and Hel as the team look set to make an impressive start to a the new season.