Dean Harrison unveils 2015 Martrain Yamahas

Martrain Racing have just put the finishing touches to a third successful pre-season test in preparation for the 2015 road racing season as they spearhead Yamaha UK’s International road racing assault.

Dean Harrison rode the new R1 and the R6 machines at Kirkistown this week in the Saintfield squad’s latest livery.

“We are working on the superbike now, trying to get it sorted.” Harrison said at the Co Down test.

“The stocker is ready to go, I could race it tomorrow and I know the R6 after last year so we are going good.”

After taking part in the official Yamaha Motors Europe test at Alcarras in Northern Spain, Martrain have enjoyed two extensive tests at Kirkistown, using the experience of Jeremy McWilliams to help develop their new Superstock and Superbike R1M’s. Harrison will have his first race outing on the bike at the Scarborough Spring Cup on April 11-12.

Following three highly successful seasons which saw the Lisburn outfit notch up twenty four British Supersport race wins and two International road race victories, including Yamaha’s first British Supersport title in thirteen years, husband and wife duo Tim & Sonya Martin are fully focussed on delivering the all new YZF R1M its maiden road race victory.

After taking part in the official YME test at Alcarras in Northern Spain, Martrain have enjoyed two extensive tests at Kirkistown back in County Down, using the experience of Jeremy McWilliams to help develop their new Superstock and Superbike R1M’s for lead rider Dean Harrison.

“It has been a challenging few months to be honest, a new model of bike brings its own difficulties in acquiring parts and trying to be race ready in time. Yamaha UK have been instrumental in getting us to this point so we cannot thank Karl Radley and the team enough, along with the data collected at the YME test we have achieved a lot in a short space of time.” Team Principal, Tim Martin said.

“We have switched to Ohlins suspension for 2015 as well which meant we also had to develop the supersport bike, we have been lucky enough however to have Ohlins present at the tests giving us full support. Employing Jeremy to help Dean develop all three machines has accelerated the whole process for us; his experience and development work is unparalleled and is something we aim to avail of throughout the season.

“It has been hard work but very rewarding to see the new R1 on track today for the first time in full livery. It isn’t the finished article just yet but to be so far on ahead the first race of a two year programme is extremely encouraging.”