TAS Racing to continue with Suzuki GB backing
TAS Racing will maintain its official Suzuki GB backing for the 2012 MCE British Superbike Championship season as the Irish-based team confirmed its place on the grid with two bikes.
TAS Racing, better known as Relentless by TAS Suzuki in recent seasons, enjoyed a successful 2011 season, with Josh Brookes winning twice on the way to fifth in the Superbike class, while Alastair Seeley wrapped up the British Supersport title on the new GSX-R600.
Though team manager Philip Neill says TAS will confirm its expanded two-rider Superbike line-up in the coming weeks, he revealed that Suzuki GB will continue to offer its support in 2012, before hinting that the bikes may change its distinctive Relentless-backed hues for next season as well.
"I am very pleased to confirm that we will continue our relationship with Suzuki for 2012 in BSB. It is currently the leading domestic championship throughout the world in our opinion and with this in mind, the championship delivers the perfect platform for our sponsors to promote their products. As the official team representing Suzuki GB we will run two riders in the restructured Superbike class and may even continue our participation in Supersport or possibly the Superstock class.
"Having secured our second British championship title in 2011, after eight consecutive years competing in the championship, 2012 is the year when we finally feel ready to challenge for the Superbike title. The newly introduced technical regulations will obviously narrow the gap between all the competing teams, which may throw up a few surprises. With everything considered we are actually more confident than ever, in terms of how the 2012 TAS Racing GSX-R1000 will stack up against our competitors.
"Taking into consideration our road racing machines currently run under a similar state of tune to what will be introduced for BSB in 2012, we certainly have the experience to hit the ground running when the series kicks off.
"Our rider line-up is yet to be announced. However we are confident of having two riders who will be capable of achieving the results we ultimately desire. We also have a few surprises in terms of our sponsorship line-up, which could see our bikes take on a new look for 2012. That again will be announced in the coming weeks."
Suzuki counterparts Crescent Racing, who finished second in the 2011 BSB standings with John Hopkins, will step up to the World Superbike Championship in 2012.
