Tyco BMW launch BSB and IOM TT Teams
TAS Racing will switch to BMW power for their 2015 MCE Insurance British Superbike Championship campaign, with riders Tommy Bridewell and Michael Laverty ready to battle for title glory.
Bridewell had his strongest season to date in 2014, snatching third place in the overall standings, scoring his first MCE BSB race win at Cadwell Park and a further five podium finishes. The Devizes rider previously raced a BMW during 2012 with the Supersonic team, qualifying for the Showdown.
Laverty, a previous MCE BSB title contender, returns to the championship after two seasons in MotoGP. He has already scored a title victory with the TAS Racing team, taking the British Supersport crown in 2007 before he and the team stepped up to MCE BSB together in 2008. He qualified for the MCE BSB Showdown in three consecutive seasons.
The team will also return to the Pirelli National Superstock 1000 Championship with double British Champion Alastair Seeley.
Bridewell said: “I am really looking forward to working with the TAS team and we obviously have high expectations as the BMW is a phenomenal bit of kit. The BMW was always my chosen bike for next season as I know how strong it was on track this year with Kiyonari. It is exciting to be a part of the team with their support from Germany. I think I will be really happy with the team next season and when I enjoy racing I am a faster rider.
“I want to come back in 2015 and build on what I achieved this year. We definitely expect to be up the front and fighting for the championship because I know one hundred percent that we are capable of that. I was third in the championship this year, so my aim is to go better than that next year!”
Laverty said: “I am really excited about being back in the championship with TAS next year. I have spent a few years in the World Championship but I am looking forward to coming back. I think the experience has made me a better rider but I have definitely missed being in a position to fight for wins and podiums.
“The TAS team have a great package with the BMW and we are going to be working hard together so that we can come out of the blocks fast from the start of the season. Everyone knows it is a tough championship with the depth of field but we will be in the best possible position as everyone has seen what the BMW is capable of with Kiyo this year. I can’t wait to start testing – we know the BMW is a match for any bike on the grid and I am really looking forward to showing what we can do with it.”
Team Manager Philip Neill commented: “It really is a great honour for TAS Racing to be chosen by BMW Motorrad to spearhead their official 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 Motorrad 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. We fully expect to be championship contenders in British Superbike and the National Superstock class next season racing BMW’s S 1000 RR.”
Guy Martin and William Dunlop to spearhead Tyco BMW efforts at IOM TT
TAS Racing along with title partner Tyco Security Products will join forces with BMW Motorrad for the 2015 road racing season, becoming the German manufacturer’s official representatives for the 2015 Isle of Man TT Races fuelled by Monster Energy and the other international road races.
Guy Martin and William Dunlop have been retained and will spearhead Tyco BMW’s assault at the ‘big three’ international road racing events as well as selected national races. The team will campaign the BMW S1000RR in the RST Superbike, RL360 Superstock and PokerStars Senior TT.
Guy Martin achieved two podiums in the 2014 TT Races, finishing second in the Superbike race and following it up with a third place finish in the PokerStars SeniorTT while William Dunlop was running in a podium place in the Senior before crashing on the third lap.
William Dunlop: “Moving to BMW Motorrad is an exciting change and one I’m looking forward to. We all saw what the BMW S 1000 RR was capable of achieving this season, so with the expertise of the guys at TAS Racing, I’m pretty sure we can do a good job in 2015. I got my first international Superbike win last year and I’d really like more next year as it’s the class to do it in. We have a top team and I’m happy to be working with Guy again at the TT, where I think together we can be even stronger with this exciting new package.”
Guy Martin:”Moving to BMW Motorrad machinery is the reason I’m still racing next year and not retiring. I’ll always give it my all and to be with a quality manufacturer like BMW is mega. I’m looking forward to getting on the bikes as soon as possible. It’s a new bike and I’ve never ridden it before, but we all know its pedigree. TAS are the best team I’ve ever ridden for; they get me and I get them and we meet in the middle, which is why we’ve been successful and this new venture with BMW is just what we need going into next season.”
Philip Neill – Team Manager: “It really is a great honour for TAS Racing to be chosen by BMW Motorrad to spearhead their official 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 Motorrad 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.”
On the rider line-up for 2015 TT Races, the Tyco BMW team manager added: “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. We fully expect to be championship contenders in British Superbike and the National Superstock class next season racing BMW’s S 1000 RR, and on the roads I’ve every confidence that William and Guy will also benefit from riding top class Tyco BMW machinery.”
He continued: “The TT is extremely important to BMW, TAS Racing and all our sponsors, and of course we want to be successful on the Island. It has been a few years now since we have had a rider on that coveted top step of the podium and as you might expect that will be our goal in June with William and Guy.
“I don’t want to build all our expectations around Guy and a TT win, although it is fair to say 2015 will give him a great chance of achieving his goal on the Tyco BMW. TT races are not easily won these days so I know Guy will be applying a one-hundred percent effort just as he does every year. Fingers crossed 2015 will be his year. On the other hand William has come of age on a Superbike and I wouldn’t bet against him either at the TT next June.”
Lee Nicholls, BMW Motorrad Marketing and PR Manager, said “It is with great pleasure that we can finally announce BMW Motorrad’s support of the TAS Racing team for the 2015 Road Racing season.”
“In 2014, BMW Motorrad had its most successful season of racing ever in the UK, which has enabled us to increase our support to both the British Superbike and Road Racing paddocks for 2015. The TAS Racing team will spearhead our assault on track, and on the roads, and will receive the full technical support from BMW Motorrad Motorsports in Munich within the framework of the BMW Customer Racing Strategy.”
“As a company we are very much looking forward to working with Hector and Philip and his team and we are confident that together with the all-new S 1000 RR we will challenge for podiums and wins next year.”
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