TAS get Suzuki backing for 2011

The Relentless by TAS team will be the only Suzuki squad in BSB to receive the backing of the UK importer next year. 

Team owner Philip Neill said they will continue to field two riders in the British series, plus two on the roads and are looking at the possibility of running in other classes on the BSB programme. 

This year both Michael Laverty and Alastair Seeley made the top six BSB Showdown, while Seeley, Cameron Donald and Bruce Anstey scored top three finishes on the road. But Neill said that no decisions have been made on the which the line-up for the 2011 team yet.

Neill said: “I’m sure it was a very difficult situation for Suzuki. They made it clear from early in season that they might not be able to support two teams.”

The news casts a question mark over the future of the Crescent squad who also ran with Suzuki GB backing for Tommy Hill and Yukio Kagayama in BSB.

Suzuki UK recently issued notice to 43 of its UK franchises, and also told both TAS and Crescent some time ago that they would no longer be in a position to support both teams.

See full story in this week’s MCN (Wednesday, October 20).