A Northern Ireland race team is set to step up to the British Superbike Championship next year.
Lisburn-based Mar-Train Yamaha have announced they will compete in the blue riband series in 2023 after confirming the renewal of its record-breaking partnership with 2022 British Supersport champion Jack Kennedy.
Mar-Train will receive technical support from Yamaha Motor UK via GYTR Pro Shop Raceways Motorcycles (McAMS Yamaha) as they make the step up to the premier class for the first time after clinching their second British Supersport title at Snetterton with three rounds and six races of the series left to run.
Read more: Kennedy craves British Supersport glory with Lisburn-based Mar-Train
Dubliner Kennedy secured his place in the history books at Snetterton after wrapping up his fourth British Supersport title in five years to become the most successful rider of all time in the class.
Kennedy dominated this season’s series with an incredible 13 wins from 16 races, never finishing outside of the top two.
Tim Martin, Team owner of Mar-Train Yamaha Racing, said: “Mar-Train Yamaha Racing doesn’t rest on its laurels and now that we secured the 2022 British Supersport Championship, we have already turned our attention to next season.
“We’re delighted to announce that Mar-Train Yamaha Racing will be making the step up to the British Superbike Championship in 2023 with Jack Kennedy piloting a Yamaha R1 that will be expertly prepared by long-term crew chief Andy Jamison with parts support from Yamaha Motor UK.
“Mar-Train Yamaha Racing has a longstanding relationship with Yamaha, and we’re delighted the Championship winning manufacturer is throwing their weight behind our Superbike effort. Yamaha Motor UK will provide factory parts and upgrades throughout the season with Raceways Motorcycles/McAMS Yamaha, who we have worked with since 2012, offering invaluable technical support in terms of bike setup at each race weekend.
“We had been in talks with Yamaha Motor UK and McAMS Yamaha for several months and once we tested the R1 Superbike a few weeks ago with Jack, we knew this was the right move for us as a team.
“We are under no illusion that this is a huge step up for Mar-Train Yamaha Racing and Jack, but one that we feel we are ready to take. Jack has nothing left to prove in the Supersport series and deserves a crack at establishing himself in the top division with front-running Superbike machinery and that’s what we want to collectively deliver next season. We are excited and ready for the challenge!”
British Supersport champion Kennedy added: “I am really excited to be back in the British Superbike Championship and extremely grateful to Mar-Train Yamaha Racing for giving me this opportunity with support from Yamaha Motor UK.
“I have really gelled with the Mar-Train Yamaha Racing team this season. I love the atmosphere and I know there’s no corners cut when it comes to Tim and Sonya, so I know I’m going to get the best package possible to compete towards the front.
“To have support from Yamaha Motor UK and Raceways/McAMS Yamaha is amazing as we know that we’re not making the jump to the premier class alone and that we will have the best possible support when it comes to putting the right package together and getting the bike right for race weekends.
“Having had two previous attempts at establishing myself in the top division, I am determined to make the most of this opportunity on Championship winning machinery and find my feet in the Superbike class. I feel like this is my time to shine in the British Superbike Championship.
“I can’t wait to get going and really looking forward to the winter so I can get stuck into my training to be the best I can be both physically and mentally in 2023.”
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