BSB: Currie completes 2019 Bournemouth Kawasaki line-up

British Supersport runner-up Ben Currie will make the move to the Bennetts British Superbike class in 2019 after signing a deal with the Bournemouth Kawasaki squad. 

The feisty Aussie, who 2018 BSB champ Leon Haslam has likened to himself, will join Glenn Irwin in the all new line-up for the factory-backed Bournemouth Kawasaki squad next year.

Currie won seven races on the outgoing Kawasaki ZX-6R in this year’s British Supersport championship, but it wouldn’t be enough to stop a dominant Jack Kennedy on Yamaha’s new YZF-R6.

The 23-year-old Australian began his racing career in motocross before moving to the UK where he completed his first full season of circuit racing. After five seasons of competition across 600cc Junior Superstock and Supersport categories, Currie is now primed to realise his dream and follow through into the premier class of the British Superbike Championship.

“I am absolutely ecstatic to be starting my new Superbike journey with Bournemouth Kawasaki this year and to be continuing as a part of the Team Green program,” Currie said.

“Next year is going to be a learning curve, but I have worked so hard to be successful and get to this point, so I am determined to make my mark! I can’t thank Pete Extance (Team Manager) and everyone at Kawasaki enough for this opportunity. I have been counting down the days until I can swing a leg over the Bournemouth Kawasaki Ninja ZX-10RR for the first time and show everybody what we can achieve.”

Team boss Pete Extance added: ““With two new riders for 2019 it’s great that both Ben and Glenn have come through the Team Green ranks with the official Kawasaki Supersport team and will now head the official Kawasaki BSB squad for 2019.”

“Glenn Irwin has had a good season finishing 3^rd in the 2018 Championship and securing a win at the final round which fortuitously gained Leon Haslam the title before the last two races. Ben Currie also had a great season in Supersport finishing runner up and battling for the Championship win right until the last round. We aim to get the boys testing in Spain this November and then we look forward to the official tests in March. I am sure Glenn will be fighting for the championship win and for sure Ben will improve round by round and be aiming for top rookie and to surprise a few regular contenders.”