BSB: Quattro Plant FS3 Kawasaki confirm two-rider line-up for 2017

FS3 Racing will step up their MCE British Superbike effort for 2017 after a successful debut season with Billy McConnell 

Running the bikes previously used by PBM and Shane Byrne to fight for the 2015 title, McConnell took a brace of top ten finishes for the all-new team to earn himself a place in the squad next year aboard the latest Kawasaki ZX-10R.

The Coventry-based outfit will also expand to two bikes with James Rispoli joining the outfit to compete in the Pirelli National Superstock 1000 championship before stepping up to the team’s ZX-10R Superbike in 2018, with potential wildcard rides next year. 

The team also gains a title sponsor for next season after plant hire firm Quattro Plant amicably parted company with the Bournemouth Kawasaki team. 

“We learned a lot during our first year in the series and plan to put that experience to good use next season,” said team owner Nigel Snook. “I’m delighted that the team has attracted backing from Quattro Plant who are great supporters of the series.

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“Billy is looking forward to a winter of hard training in preparation for riding our new Superbike and building on the progress he made with us last year. We’ll also have James Rispioli joining the team to front a title challenge in the Superstock class next year. He knows it’s going to be a really competitive class but we’re confident he’ll be running at the front.” 

McConnell added: “This is really exciting for me to return with the team for next season. We have some great work going on behind the scenes and I am ready to move forward again in 2017. It is so important to have consistency in this championship and that is what we need to take into next year.

“I want to be aiming for consistent top ten finishes with top fives too and then we will see what happens. We want to come back stronger and together we are working hard to come out fighting from round one.” 

While Rispoli will be stepping aside to the stock class next year, the team have also confirmed it is the plan to give the American at least one Superbike wildcard in 2017 before he steps back up to BSB full time with them the following year.

“This year has been tough, so to be presented with the opportunity to go and win races in Superstock with FS3 and Kawasaki backing is good,” he told MCN. “Sometimes you have to take a step sideways to be able to move forwards and I genuinely believe this is what this will be. I just want to be with a team that believe in me and to become an official Kawasaki rider means more to me than going again next year with a sub-par team.” 

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