BRIDEWELL AND LAVERTY TO FIGHT FOR 2015 MCE BSB TITLE WITH TYCO BMW
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.”
For more information please visit www.britishsuperbike.com
More, from a press release issued by TAS Racing:
TAS RACING LAUNCH TYCO BMW FOR 2015 SEASON
TAS Racing along with title partner Tyco Security Products will join forces with BMW Motorrad for the 2015 season, becoming the German manufacturer’s official representatives in both British championship and also on the International Road Racing scene. The team will run under the title – Tyco BMW.
The rider line-up for 2015 will consist of a two-pronged attack in the British Superbike Championship, with Northern Irishman Michael Laverty returning from MotoGP to partner Englishman and current BSB number 3 Tommy Bridewell.
Double British champion and 12-time International North West 200 winner Alastair Seeley will campaign a Tyco BMW S 1000 RR in the Pirelli National Superstock class during 2015. The diminutive Ulsterman will also ride a full stable of Tyco BMW machinery at the North West 200 next May.
Michael Laverty:
“I’m delighted to be back in the TAS Racing fold for 2015; this time with a new manufacturer in BMW Motorrad behind us. It’s a very exciting time for both myself and the team: we are both new to the BMW S 1000 RR but it is a bike built for the race track and I believe we have all the ingredients required to deliver the BSB title.
“I’m very motivated about my move back to BSB. I’ve spent the last two seasons in MotoGP and feel I’m a much stronger rider thanks to that experience, both on the riding and the technical side. I’ve really missed not being on a machine capable of delivering wins and podiums, so I’m already daydreaming about the battles ahead with Shakey and Co. next season.”
Tommy Bridewell:
“I’m really excited to be joining Tyco BMW for next season. I’ve met the team and they are a great bunch of guys and having ridden the BMW before, and watched what Kiyo was able to do on it this season, I know we will have as competitive a package as anyone on the BSB grid in 2015. In 2012 I put a standard BMW into the top six, so with factory support and the help of everyone at Tyco BMW, the goal is to be challenging regularly at the front and winning more races. I’m also looking forward to working with Michael [Laverty] as he has a lot of experience both in BSB and with the team. So I’m now counting down the days to the first test.”
Alastair Seeley:
“It’s great to be back with TAS Racing and to be part of the whole Tyco BMW set-up for next year. With factory support and what I believe to be the best machinery for both the Superstock class and the North West 200, I really can’t wait to get started. TAS Racing gave me the opportunity to win two British championships so the goal this year is to repay them and hopefully make that three. I’m also happy to be back in the Superstock class as I feel the BMW S 1000 RR will give me a great chance to win the championship and I’ve already started doing my homework for next season.”
International Road Racing News
Guy Martin and William Dunlop have been retained and will spearhead Tyco BMW’s assault at the ‘big three’ international road racing events: North West 200, Isle of Man TT and Ulster Grand Prix, as well as selected national races.
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.
“As part of our agreement with BMW Motorrad, 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, 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.”
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 British Superbike and 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 their team and we are confident that together with the all-new S 1000 RR we will challenge for podiums and wins across the UK and Ireland next year.”
Phil Dashey, Vice President & General Manager at Tyco Security Products concluded: “We’ve had a great working relationship with TAS; our brand has grown significantly as a result, so to renew with them, but work with a new manufacturer under the Tyco BMW banner is a very exciting prospect”
“We’ve enjoyed success on various platforms in a number of guises and liveries with the TAS team, but I’m sure I will echo everyone’s sentiments when I say our major goals for 2015 are to lift the British Superbike title and a coveted Isle of Man TT top step.”
About Tyco Security Products
Tyco Security Products is a unified group of the most comprehensive world-leading premium access control, video, location-based tracking and intrusion solutions in the security industry. Tyco Security Products conducts business in over 177 countries around the world, in multiple languages and employs over 2,800 employees globally, including research and development, marketing, manufacturing, sales, service and logistics teams in the Americas, Europe, the Middle East, Africa, and Asia Pacific. Our products, built by developers from all product disciplines, consistently allow customers to see more, do more, and save more across multiple industries and segments including healthcare, government, transportation, finance, retail, commercial and residential. Worldwide, Tyco Security Products helps protect 42% of Fortune 500 companies, transportation systems on five continents, 37% of the world’s top 100 retailers, over two million commercial enterprises, thousands of students in more than 900 educational facilities, and over five million private residences.