Laverty and Bridewell to front Tyco BMW BSB assault, Martin and Dunlop spearhead TT challenge, Seeley in Superstock 1000 switch Northern Ireland's TAS Racing has confirmed its status as BMW Motorrad's official MCE British Superbike and international road racing squad for 2015. The announcement today beings to an end speculation surrounding the team's plans, with a change to the German manufacturer mooted since the end of October. A statement last week confirmed that TAS Racing had severed its ties with Suzuki after a successful 14-year association, paving the way for official confirmation of the new BMW collaboration. Ulsterman Michael Laverty and English rider Tommy Bridewell will lead the team's British Superbike challenge on the all-new BMW S1000-RR, replacing American John Hopkins and Aussie Josh Waters, who both failed to make it into the all-important Showdown this season. Alastair Seeley also returns to the TAS Racing set-up to contest the Pirelli National Superstock 1000 series plus the North West 200. On the roads, Guy Martin and William Dunlop have been retained for the North West 200, Isle of Man TT and Ulster Grand Prix, plus selected national meetings. Tyco Security Products will remain as the main sponsor of Philip and Hector Neill's team, which will run under the official title of Tyco BMW. Laverty returns to the British Superbike Championship after two years spent in the MotoGP World Championship with Paul Bird Motorsport, while Bridewell joins the team after clinching an impressive third place in the 2014 Showdown on the Milwaukee Yamaha. Team manager Philip Neill said: “It really is a great honour for TAS Racing to be chosen by BMW to spearhead their racing efforts in 2015, and everyone involved has been very supportive in helping us put the correct package together. “Although our agreement is with BMW in the UK, the support we have received from BMW in Germany is already very encouraging. We will have full support from the factory both technically and personnel wise next season to help us achieve our goals. “We put a lot of thought into our rider line-up for 2015 and as always the goal is to win races both in British championship and also at international level on the roads,” he added. “We fully expect to be championship contenders in British Superbike and the National Superstock class next season racing BMW's S1000-RR, and on the roads I've every confidence that William and Guy will also benefit from riding top class Tyco BMW machinery.”
Cancel my last, Kiyo is still riding for the Buildbase BMW team again next year. Tyco BMW with Laverty and Bridwell will be a very competitive team.
BSB is gonna be amazing!! Bridewell and Laverty will be a good team. Kiyo is back Shakey always there New R1 Prob more ive missed
It might take the Milwaukee r1 team most or all the 2014 season to get to grips with the new package but only time will tell!
Has anyone got any thoughts on how Honda will do this season? Laverty was in the running 2012, plus Lowes was champion 2013, could it be their year again?
Here ya go mate Honda (UK) announces its rider line-up for the 2015 British Superbike Championship Honda (UK) has announced the rider line-up for its full-time return to the British Superbike Championship in 2015. The two-man Honda Racing squad will include Australian rider Jason O'Halloran and Yorkshireman Dan Linfoot, who will both compete aboard the Honda CBR1000RR Fireblade in the premier BSB class. Jason O'Halloran remains with Honda for a fifth season, making the move up to the Superbike category having previously competed for the manufacturer in the British Supersport and the National Superstock 1000 championships. O'Halloran ended the 2014 season as runner-up in the Superstock championship having put in an impressively consistent performance, finishing on the podium in 10 out of 12 races aboard the new Fireblade SP machine. O'Halloran will be joined in the Honda Racing line-up by Dan Linfoot, who was one of six riders to reach the 2014 BSB Showdown, eventually finishing in fifth place overall. Linfoot has been competing in BSB since 2010, accumulating sound knowledge and experience of the championship and its circuits, which he'll be looking to put to good use as he aims to fight with the front-runners in 2014. Having secured the British Superbike title in 2013 with Alex Lowes, Honda (UK) made the decision not to compete in a full-time capacity in the 2014, instead using the season as a development year for the CBR1000RR Fireblade. During that time, French rider Julien Da Costa has contested four wildcard rides for Honda Racing and the team has completed a number of valuable private testing sessions with O'Halloran on board. With the development year under its belt and a fresh rider line-up in place, the Honda Racing team is ready to return in full force to the 2015 British Superbike Championship. Be sure to follow Honda UK on Facebook and Twitter for all the BSB and Honda Motorcycles action throughout the year. Find out all about #HondaBSB first, by following the hashtag. Nick Campolucci - Head of Motorcycles, Honda (UK) The decision to take a year out of the British Superbike Championship was not taken lightly and it was not our preferred option at the time, but with hindsight it has proved to be incredibly valuable. The team has been able to complete a successful testing programme, under which the CBR1000RR Fireblade race machine has undergone some significant improvements, and we're ready to come back to the championship fighting fit and with a really strong rider line-up in Jason and Dan. We're very positive about the year ahead and eager to see what the season will bring. Havier Beltran - Honda Racing team manager We're obviously very pleased to be returning to BSB for 2015 and happy to have Jason and Dan on board. Both riders have an incredibly positive attitude and they are both hungry for success, so there is no doubt in my mind that the two of them will make an excellent team. Couple that with all the hard work that the team has done over the past year in testing and developing the Superbike package and I'm confident that 2015 will see Honda Racing return to BSB in a strong position and capable of achieving top results. Jason O'Halloran I'm really pleased to move up to the British Superbike Championship with Honda. When I signed with the team four years ago it was my aim to improve and progress with them, and for me the step up is happening just at the right time. I had a really consistent Superstock season in 2014 and I've made positive steps as a rider. I've also been working with the team on the development of the 2015 Superbike, so I've put in a decent amount of miles already before we even start pre-season testing. The team has been able to make some good improvements to what was already a championship winning machine, so I feel like we're in a really strong position going into next year. Dan Linfoot I've been in BSB for a few seasons now and the aim has always been to improve my riding and eventually compete for and win a BSB title with an official team. I've always admired Honda Racing and I'm really excited to be riding with them for 2015. The team may have been out of racing for a season, but they haven't lost ground; they've been testing and improving the bike in a lot of areas. Even before the year out, the package was good enough to win the title, so it has to be even better now. BSB is a fantastic championship with such a high calibre of riders but we need to be part of that — fighting with them and being consistently good at every race to be in with a chance. I'm really eager to get started.
They ought to lob a new SP at Jenny T so she's not having to circulate on that well worn Bike she uses now.
Be nice but they won't do it. Shame the 2012 s stock winner didn't do better, forgot his name is it Keith somethin
Can't see Honda doing much in bsb with the current bike. Shakey , Kiyo, Brookes and co on their relevant machinery will be there or thereabouts. And obviously Tyco with Laverty and Bridewell have the potential to be a big threat if the bmw goes as well or better than this years model.
I wonder how tyco having factory support over build base will effect kiyos chances. Loved seeing him on it last year.
