BSB: Affinity Sports Academy work with Team Green to give platform to young riders

Leon Haslam is about to help launch the careers of six young riders through his brand-new Affinity Sports Academy team. 

The academy, created by the 2018 British Superbike champion last year, has a strong connection with Kawasaki and their Team Green brand. The aim is to take young riders and help to develop them as they rise through the ranks of the British Superbike series. 

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Alongside Haslam and Kawasaki, the six riders selected to compete in 2020 will also have John Laverty as their team manager and mentor. 

“This is an exciting new venture for all of us, Laverty explains. “Team Owner, Leon Haslam has created a great platform for these young riders to work from, and I am there to help nurture them through the season and try not to let them make the same mistakes that we all did when starting out!

“The support of Team Green is invaluable, and these guys know they have a great opportunity ahead of them. The idea of the Academy is to help them win races, Championships and hopefully progress through the British Superbike series alongside Kawasaki and Team Green.”

The Affinity Sports Academy team will compete in both the Junior Supersport and Junior Superstock classes this year and will be known as Kawasaki’s official entrants. In the Superstock class their riders will ride Ninja ZX-6Rs, whilst the Supersport riders will have Ninja 400s. 

The riders selected to be a part of the academy’s first season are: Kade and Luke Verwey, Eugene and James McManus, Ash Barnes, and Owen Jenner. 

Kawasaki Motors UK Senior Racing Coordinator, Ross Burridge, sees the academy as a perfect opportunity for these young riders. 

“Team Green has always focussed on developing young talent and offering opportunities for progression,” Burridge said. “Danny Buchan is a great example who has progressed from Junior Superstock, right the way through to becoming our official Superbike rider, so there really is something for the young riders of Affinity Sports Academy to aspire to.

“Spanning across two classes, Junior Supersport and Junior Superstock, immediately there is an opportunity for growth within the Academy itself, so I am sure we will be seeing some exciting racing on track from all riders when the season gets underway in just over a month’s time.”

The Affinity Sports Academy riders will begin their journeys at Donington Park on the weekend of August 7-9.