Motourage

Guy Martin completes the Tyco Suzuki lineup for the forthcoming season. The 2011 Ulster Grand Prix Superbike winner and quadruple podium finisher at last year’s Isle of Man TT will partner Manxman Conor Cummins in an all-new line up for the three major International Road Races.

British Superbike Championship rider Alastair Seeley will also join them in a three-pronged attack at the North West 200 in May.

It will be Lincolnshire rider’s second season racing for Moneymore-based TAS Racing and in inimitable Guy Martin style, he explained just why he wanted to remain on GSX-R machinery with Tyco Suzuki.

Guy Martin:
“It’s taken a while, but it was always on the cards. I’m happy to be back with the team for a second year and I love the new Tyco Suzuki colors. Great job. I couldn’t knock last year to be honest; the only thing we didn’t do was win a TT, but hopefully we’ll put that right in June. That’s the box we want to tick. The North West and Ulster GP are great events but it’s a TT win I really want. The team is good enough, the bikes are good enough; and I believe the rider is good enough, so it’s time to go out and win one.”

Philip Neill, Team Manager:
“After all the speculation it’s nice to finally be able to officially announce that Guy Martin will continue to race for TAS in 2012 in the new Tyco Suzuki livery. I think we both knew that it was going to happen. We made a verbal agreement to each other last August at the Ulster Grand Prix, but all the speculation has brought lots of publicity for our sponsors, the team and Suzuki, which is great. But I suppose when Guy gets out of bed these days he gets media coverage.”

“He’s a hard man to pin down with such a busy schedule, but with Conor onboard and now Guy, I think we have a strong team looking ahead to the three internationals. Guy proved last year that he has all the ingredients required to go all out for that TT win in June. It’s eluded him so far, but we’ll work as hard as we can as a team to make it happen.”

“He’s not just the most popular rider in the UK these days, but also very popular outside the sport, which is good for motorcycling in general. Everyone at TAS, Suzuki, Tyco and existing sponsors like Ian Glen from Beacon are delighted to see him stay for a second year. And as I said before, along with Conor and our BSB duo of Seeley and Brookes, I feel it can be a successful season for Tyco Suzuki.”

TAS Racing has signed Manxman Conor Cummins to race Tyco Suzuki machinery during his 2012 international road racing campaign, which is based around the North West 200, Isle of Man TT and Ulster Grand Prix.

The 25-year-old is regarded as one of the sport’s hottest young properties, and despite his high-speed and hugely publicized accident on the Mountain Circuit during the Senior TT in 2010, he is now fighting fit and looking forward to a new chapter in his career.

Cummins will also take in a number of British Superstock rounds throughout the season and hand-picked road races like the Southern 100 for Tyco Suzuki.

Conor Cummins:
“This is the ride I’ve been wanting for three or four years. I’m thrilled to have been given the chance to now ride for a factory-supported team in Tyco Suzuki and to be working with the boys at TAS Racing. I’ve been training hard with gym sessions and out on the pushbike and mountain bike over the winter, so I’m relishing the thought of getting aboard the team’s GSX-R1000 Superbike in testing. I’d say I’m not far off being as fit as I ever was and having been over to the workshop to meet the boys in Northern Ireland and have a look at my bikes. April can’t come quick enough to get racing.”

Philip Neill, Team Manager:
“After months of speculation and negotiations it’s great to finally welcome Conor Cummins to our team for the 2012 international road racing season. It’s fair to say there has been a little bit of pressure to return to a two-rider team on the roads – so once we’d reached that decision, Conor really was the obvious choice. As a person I’ve always been hugely impressed with Conor and his riding skills were evident to all after those blistering lap speeds at the 2010 TT.

“However, probably more impressive is the determination he has shown in his comeback from injury, and for me, that was more than enough to justify a factory-supported ride with us here at Tyco Suzuki. I’ll be looking forward to working with Conor both on and off the track this season, as he has the attitude and personality I was really looking for in a rider.”

Hector Neill, Team Owner:
“It’s no secret the Isle of Man TT is the highlight of the racing season for me, and with that in mind, it was important to have a two-rider lineup. It’s also widely known that my number one desire in racing is to again win the Senior TT trophy. So what better way than to win it with a Manxman onboard.”

Having recently agreed terms with TAS Racing team manager Philip Neill, reigning British Supersport champion Alastair Seeley will complete the all-new Tyco Suzuki line-up for next season’s British Superbike Championship.

The Northern Ireland rider has won two British Championships – Superstock and Supersport – for the Moneymore, Northern Ireland-based team since joining them in 2009 and will now form a formidable partnership with Australian Josh Brookes in the official Suzuki BSB team aboard the GSX-R1000.

Seeley made the all-important Title Fighters’ top six during his debut season in British Superbike in 2010, which included a memorable victory at Brands Hatch. He will also represent the team at the International North West 200 in May where he has scored five victories to date. He is the current NW200 Superbike Champion.

Alastair Seeley:
“I’m very excited to be back with the TAS team for another year, especially getting back on a Superbike, and I’m equally excited about the new Tyco Suzuki colors. The bike looks really well. Once we get some pre-season testing done my aim will be to try and win the Championship; that really is my only goal. I think the new rules in BSB will be in my favor, having already won two Championships without electronic aids, and I have every confidence in the boys at TAS to give me the best possible package. Until then I’ll be doing plenty of motocross and trials riding to hone my throttle control skills, but I can’t wait to get started.”

Philip Neill, Team Manager:
“It’s fantastic to be able to confirm Alastair Seeley as our second rider in BSB for next year and also for another North West 200 campaign in May. We have had a tremendous journey with Alastair since we brought him into our set-up at the start of 2009, quite unexpectedly. He was a relative unknown in British championship terms back then, so to be able to turn him into a double Champion in such a short space of time is very satisfying.

“He has been hugely impressive on all types of GSX-R machinery and his goal now is to go on and become the first rider ever to win three different British Championships. He had a great rookie season in Superbike back in 2010; probably the best one we have seen so far. He then took on the Supersport challenge this season with the all-new GSX-R600 and did a great job for TAS Racing and Suzuki, taking 10 wins on the way to the Championship.

“We have rewarded that success with another shot in BSB and after his performance recently at Portimao for Crescent Suzuki, standing in for the injured John Hopkins at a track he’d never seen before and posting more-than respectable times, we believe he can be a genuine title contender during 2012 in BSB.”