Tyco Suzuki has signed double Australian Superbike Champion Josh Waters to the Northern Ireland-based team’s line-up for the 2014 British Superbike Championship.
The former Suzuki racer will join Suzuki MotoGP, WSB and 2011 BSB Championship runner-up John Hopkins aboard GSX-R1000 machinery in the all-new and formidable partnership in Tyco Suzuki livery next season.
Waters endured a long 2013 campaign with little success, putting his struggles down to learning the tight British circuits. Qualifying was often an issue, with the Aussie remarking at the beginning of the season that with such a strong field, a start from the front was definitely needed. Another problem was the difference in machinery – Waters had been riding the GSX-R1000 in Australia and internationally for some years and found it difficult making the switch to Yamaha.
“I am really happy and excited to be joining Tyco Suzuki for the 2014 season. I’ve spent a lot of years racing with Suzuki in the past, and every year I was with them, they were very successful for me,” said Waters after the news was announced.
“TAS Suzuki is a team I’ve followed for a long time, and it goes without saying, Hector and Philip Neill run a great team. I’m currently back home in Australia, but I can’t wait to start testing the GSX-R1000 Superbike for the 2014 season. I’m looking forward to it already; and partnering John Hopkins in the Tyco Suzuki set-up is an added bonus.”
Team manager Phillip Neil was equally happy with his replacement for Josh Brookes, saying “It’s great to be able to announce our final British Superbike signing for 2014 in Josh Waters, which now leaves us to concentrate on the important task of further-developing the GSX-R1000 Superbike in readiness for testing in the New Year.
“Josh really is the ideal candidate to join us at Tyco Suzuki, having spent seven years racing GSX-R machinery in Australia; in addition to two very successful outings at the Suzuka 8-Hour with Yoshimura Suzuki.
“I have known Josh since 2009 and have looked at a number of options to bring him to British championship. Now that we finally have the opportunity to work together, I’d like to formally welcome him to Tyco Suzuki. I’m confident we haven’t seen the best of Josh and everyone at Tyco Suzuki will be working hard to ensure he has the tools to show exactly what he is capable of in 2014.”
Fellow Aussie Josh Brookes, a strong contender in the British Superbike series for the last few seasons, is linked to Waters’ former team. Brookes is rumored to be taking the spot at Milwaukee Yamaha left vacant by James Ellison.
Brooks is set to replace James Ellison.
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