Leon Camier & Tristan Palmer 2008

Tristan Palmer has signed for the Hawk Racing team for the 2009 season after a year riding for the TENA for Men Honda.

Palmer said,

“I’m delighted to have signed for Hawk Racing.  I worked with the team at the Race of the Year and they’re such a professional and dedicated crew that I just couldn’t refuse their offer.  I am sure that together we can do a great job and achieve good things next season.”

Stuart Hicken, the team manager said,

“Tristan has now had two great years in BSB, winning the privateers cup in 2007 and then taking 10th overall in 2008.  After making his debut with the team at the Race of the Year I believe we have the man for the job and look forward to the 2009 BSB campaign.

We are currently finalising deals for 2009 with Luke Stapleford  and James Hillier and an announcement on machinery and final team structure will be made shortly.”

Palmer is one of the few riders to compete in both AMA and British Superbike Championships, and was called back from Daytona in 2007 as a replacement rider for the injured Michael Howarth in the privateer series.

The TENA for Men Honda team was originally Team Howarth Racing,  but after Howarth shattered his leg in a spectacular crash in qualifying at Brands Hatch, Palmer was called-up.

Hawk Racing have had Scott Smart riding the Kawasaki in 2008 who did his first full season for the team back in 2003 and finished in ninth place overall.

He then went on to race for the Rizla Suzuki team alongside John Reynolds in 2005, however, he struggled with the bike and left the team mid-season moving to the Vivaldi Racing Team where he missed a few races after suffering a broken collarbone.

In 2006, he rode the Suzuki to victory in the first round at Donington Park in the wet, later in the season he suffered a broken wrist. He returned to Hawk Kawasaki in 2007, but was uncompetitive.