BSB: Gearlink Kawasaki to leave British motorcycle racing paddock as owner Michael de Bidaph retires

British motorcycle racing stalwarts Gearlink Kawasaki will close the garage doors for final time following the conclusion of the 2024 Quattro Group British Supersport Championship.

Team owner Michael de Bidaph has confirmed his upcoming retirement which will see the iconic green and orange Kawasaki bikes disappear from the Bennetts British Superbike Championship paddock.

De Bidaph and wife Norma started out as personal sponsors of James Hillier in 2004 before launching the team alongside Hillier and his dad the following year in the Supersport Cup. It was a partnership that would celebrate many podiums over the next few seasons.

In 2008 Gearlink became the official Kawasaki UK British Supersport team and have enjoyed a successful and loyal partnership ever since. They may have missed out on the title, but Gearlink Kawasaki were runners-up in 2011, 2017, 2018, 2021 and 2023.

“It would be fitting to say that this is the end of an era that started in 2004,” De Bidaph said. “My darling Norma and I part sponsored James Hillier that year and at the end of that season decided to set up our own team.

“In 2005, we competed in the Supersport cup series with James, his dad, a Transit van and a small camper for the two of us. Throughout the past twenty years we have had highs and lows with many race wins by different riders and have thoroughly enjoyed life in the paddock making many friends along the way. 

“I must admit that we never set out to achieve such success ending up with an Arctic, a forty-foot Motorhome, several race bikes and numerous race equipment but I think our deep passion for this wonderful sport has been a contributing factor towards this feat.

“I would like to take this opportunity to thank our dear friends Ben and Louise Wilson for doing such a great job in running the team over the past few years, Ross Burridge at Kawasaki UK, Stuart Higgs and the MSVR staff and all of our sponsors especially product suppliers as without them none of this would have been possible.”

Ben Wilson came closest to winning the Supersport crown for Gearlink Kawasaki in 2011, missing out on the title by just one point to Alastair Seeley. Fellow riders to have finished second in the green and orange of Gearlink include Andrew Irwin (2017), Ben Currie (2018 & 2021) and Tom Booth-Amos (2023).

Such is the status of the team, World Supersport rider Can Öncü rode for Gearlink Kawasaki at Donington Park earlier this year, taking a victory and second place.

Aside from their Supersport exploits, Gearlink were also crowned Pirelli National Superstock 600 champions with Jamie Hamilton in 2009 and Luke Hedger in 2013, and were regular points scores in the Superbike class during their time in the premier category.

“Gearlink Kawasaki has been a massive part of my life and really has moulded me into the person I am today, Ben Wilson, Team Manager added. “I’ve had some big highs and equally some big lows, chased championships and had the privilege of standing on the podium many times in the iconic green and orange livery.

“The past few years of running the team have been an honour and a privilege, and we have enjoyed much success along the way. We never quite managed a Championship title, but we came pretty close! This is the end of an era now, and it will leave a huge hole in mine and my family’s life, but the time feels right now to make this our last season.”

Ross Burridge, Head of Marketing & Racing Department concluded: “Wow, what can I say? This truly is an end of an era with Kawasaki UK working with Gearlink for so many years. Michael, Norma, Ben and Lou have always been some of the most professional, enthusiastic and dedicated people we have had the pleasure of working with and they will be sorely missed from the paddock.

“That green and orange livery is synonymous with the Supersport class and visions of Michael and Norma hanging over the pit wall celebrating their many race wins will stay with us forever. It’s criminal that they never won that elusive Supersport title, but we all collectively had a lot of fun trying to achieve it along the way. We wish them all the very best.”