Crescent Suzuki has signed 2012 eni FIM Superbike World Championship runner-up Eugene Laverty to lead the team’s assault on next year’s title fight.
The 27-year-old Irishman will join the team with immediate effect and will participate in the team’s final test of the season at Jerez on November 25-26, where he will get his first taste of the Yoshimura-powered Suzuki GSX-R. Prior to the test, Laverty will be at the ‘Motorcycle Live’ Show on Saturday, November 23 at the NEC in Birmingham as a guest of Suzuki UK, where he will make his first official appearance as a Suzuki rider.
Laverty won a staggering nine races in 2013 and headed to the final round of the season with a chance of the championship, where – despite winning both races – he narrowly missed out on the title. The Irishman brings with him a wealth of experience gained throughout many different championships in his career including British 125cc Championship, MotoGP™ 250cc division and twice runner-up in the World Supersport class.
“I’m delighted to join Crescent Suzuki for the 2014 season,” Laverty said. “I will try the GSX-R1000 for the first time at the end of this month to better understand our potential, and I am really excited to see what I can do with the bike.
“Thank you to Paul Denning and his team, and to Suzuki, for pushing so hard for this deal and for believing in me. I will give everything I possibly can to bring Suzuki to the top of the podium again!”
The Crescent Suzuki team is currently pushing forward with an aggressive development plan for the GSX-R1000 Superbike in order to further increase its competitive level in 2014, and looks forward to matching these improvements to the clear racing ability of its new rider.
“It is an exciting prospect for the Crescent Suzuki team to have secured the services of a rider of Eugene’s caliber,” said team manager Paul Denning. “He has shown regularly this season that he has the determination, ability and technique to secure superb results, even when things are against him. Eugene brings a different level of expectation to the team and it is now up to us to give him the tool for the job.
“We have made big steps this season with the GSX-R, and with further developments planned for 2014 I am convinced that Eugene will be able to get the maximum potential from the Suzuki.”
Crescent Suzuki bids Leon Camier a fond and regrettable farewell. Camier joined the Crescent World Superbike team at the end of 2011 and has been a popular addition to the team ever since. He brought a wealth of experience to the Crescent Suzuki squad and all who have worked with him have benefitted from this and his friendly, accessible manner.
“On behalf of all at Crescent and all our sponsors and partners, I would like to thank Leon for the two years that he has been with the team,” Denning said. “He has not only been the consummate professional at all times and a great ambassador, he has also become a close friend. His infectious nature is a pleasure to have around the team and he will certainly be missed. I don’t think we ever saw the best of Leon, due to some unfortunate injuries, but if points were awarded for dedication to get back to full fitness then he would have been 2013 World Champion!
“I wish Leon the very best of luck for the future and I am genuinely sad to see him leave the team. He is a highly talented racer who deserves to get back to the winning circle.”
–From Team Suzuki News Service
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