BSS: Kennedy to defend Supersport crown with Integro Yamaha

Jack Kennedy will return to the Dickies British Supersport championship to defend his title in 2019 after signing a deal to remain with the Integro Yamaha team.

Kennedy dominated the 2018 season, taking the title despite a mid-season setback when he injured his hand in a testing crash in America. The Irishman won 11 wins and finished on the podium in every race he entered, missing just two at Brands Hatch with that mid-season injury.

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The official Yamaha effort will be going for their third supersport crown from three in 2019, having won in 2017 with Keith Farmer prior to Kennedy’s triumph this year.

“I’m really happy to be staying with Integro Yamaha to defend the British Supersport title in 2019,” Kennedy said. “It’s a proven winning combination as team, bike and rider gel so well and we really enjoy our racing together, so it’s the perfect package all round. We have had a fantastic 2018 season, were never off the podium in every race we competed in, all credit to my Appleyard Macadam crew who gave me a faultless bike to do the job on.  It was great to reward them with the championship for all their hard work and the plan for next year is to do the same. The YZF R6 is a dream to ride and I’m as excited as ever to get the season started! 2019 can’t come around quick enough.”

20-year-old Brad Jones will again join Kennedy in the Integro Yamahs squad after impressing with fifth place overall in his rookie season.

“I am delighted to be staying with Integro on board the Yamaha R6 again for another year,” Jones said.  “After a successful debut season in the Supersport class, it’s great to be able to have some continuity riding the same bike and working with the same guys. We learnt a lot this season, knowing what we now know we can really go into the start of season and hit the ground running. With some testing lined up before round one we can test some valuable things and then get our heads down at Silverstone for the new season. I would really like to thank Team Appleyard Macadam and Yamaha UK for this opportunity.”