British Superbike News

Atsushi Watanabe

Atsushi Watanabe the Japanese rider has signed to ride with the Relentless Suzuki by TAS Racing team for 2009.

Watanabe was the 2002 and 2007 Japanese Superbike Champion and has been partnering Tom Sykes in the British Superbike Championship in 2008 for the Rizla Suzuki team.

The 32-year-old rider, will be racing the all new GSX-R1000 for the Irish based team in his second year of BSB.  The team principle, Philip Neill said;

“We are very pleased to have secured Atsushi’s services for the 2009 British Superbike Championship and we look forward to welcoming, both he and his wife, to our base in Northern Ireland.  We trust they will enjoy the Irish hospitality and also our way of life.

Atsushi is obviously an immensely talented rider, indicated not only by his results, but also by his status in Japan with Suzuki.  He brings a wealth of experience to our team and his development experience throughout the GSX-R range, will I’m sure, prove to be invaluable.  Everyone at TAS Racing is excited about this new chapter and we’re already looking forward to testing and developing the 2009 GSX-R1000 with Atsushi in the coming months.”

Atsushi said,

“After enjoying my first season in BSB, I’m now very excited to be joining the Relentless Suzuki team for 2009.  I am aware of their past results and pedigree, both in British championship and also in international road racing, so I am confident that we can move forward together in 2009 with the all new GSX R1000 Suzuki.”