Lougher on Yamahas

TT star Ian Lougher and his long-time backers Blackhorse Motorcycle Finance have made a dramatic switch to Yamaha for the 2008 season.

Team Blackhorse will become an official YMUK ‘Roads Team’, spearheaded by the vastly experienced Lougher with up-and-coming Olie Linsdell as his teammate.

Welshman Lougher started racing back in 1982 and will continue in the combined role of motorcycle racer, team owner and manager, a role which he has embraced and taken to considerable success over recent years.

He first became involved with Blackhorse Motorcycle Finance five years ago which led to the formation of Team Blackhorse in 2005. The team ran Hondas last year but have switched to become Yamaha’s official team in the major road races.

With unrivalled knowledge, expertise and a full stable of Yamaha state of the art machinery at their disposal Team Blackhorse Yamaha will be campaigning in the 600cc Supersport, 1000cc Superstock and for Ian, the prestigious Superbike classes throughout the 2008 racing season.

As well as continuing their familiar ‘pure’ road race assault, this season will see Ian and his highly dedicated team passing on their wealth of experience to the team’s talented new protégé Olie Linsdell, as Team Blackhorse Yamaha move back into the BSB paddock with Olie Linsdell in the all new Junior 600cc Superstock series.

In addition to the team’s short circuit schedule, Linsdell, will also line up alongside team boss, Lougher, for the three international road race events: the North West 200, Isle of Man TT and Ulster Grand Prix.

Lougher said: “It’s a great honour to be flying the Yamaha UK flag on the ‘roads’ this season. We are very much looking forward to a long and successful association with Yamaha UK and believe the move to Yamaha machinery will be highly beneficial to the team and ultimately, to all our team sponsors.

“The involvement of Black Horse Motorcycle Finance Limited, the UK’s largest motorcycling and leisure industry finance house, is a tremendous asset to the team, they’re a fabulous group of people and it gives us immense pleasure to be working them again in 2008.

“The introduction of Olie to the team this year is something I’m particularly looking forward to, he had a fantastic 2007 season and certainly looks to have the makings of a future motorcycle racing star.

“Operating within the BSB series in the Junior 600 Superstock class promises to deliver a whole new range of challenges – a prospect that everyone involved with Team Blackhorse Yamaha is very excited about.”

Linsdell , just 20 years old in November, last year won both the Manx Newcomers (by 13 and half minutes – the biggest MGP winning margin in history) and Ultra Lightweight Manx GP races riding an FZR400 Yamaha but is an equally promising prospect on short circuits.

Linsdell said: “I’m delighted to be involved with Ian and Team Blackhorse. They are one of the largest and long established teams in the paddock, and their wealth of experience will be invaluable to myself as an up and coming rider.

The switch to Yamaha is a great boost as it’s looking as though they are going to be the bikes to be on in both Supersport and Superstock classes next year. I’m sure that all of this combined will help to carry my momentum into next season and my results on to the next level!”