After being dumped by MotoGP CRT Speed Master team because he couldn’t find the necessary funding and then passed over by Swan Yamaha to replace the injured Ian Hutchinson by the much more popular Noriyuki Haga, Anthony West has found a home in newbie British Superbike team Supersonic Racing.
Supersonic Racing just earlier this week announced they would be joining the highly competitive British series and using BMW S1000RR bikes that will supplied by BMW Motorrad Italia and adapted for the new BSB technical regulations (click here to see the video with the new technical regulations).
Joining West in Danilo Soncini’s team will be Switzerland’s formerSuperbike champion Patric Muff, who debuted last season in the BSB Evo class with Tyco Racing, after a stint in the IDM and the endurance championship with Bolliger Team Switzerland.
Here’s what the two riders had to say: “It has been a difficult couple of weeks for me; I obviously lost the ride in MotoGP and before then I hadn’t looked outside of that paddock.
I looked at what John (Hopkins) had done by racing in BSB last year and I thought it could be a good move for me.
I don’t know a lot of the tracks, but I have experience of learning fast from the different championships I have raced in before.
It will also be a new experience riding the BMW Superbike so it is exciting for me; the competition this year looks like it will be the best it has ever been in BSB so it will be a new challenge.
My fans have been a great support to me and it was also their reaction of wanting to see me race in BSB that pushed me to continue my racing career.
” said West.
“After my podiums and fourth place in BSB Evo last year, this season I had a single goal and that was to be back on the grid.
After conversations with different teams, Danilo Soncini of Supersonic Racing offered me the chance to ride in his team.
I’m so happy because they have a strong technical background with the official support from BMW Motorrad Italia.
I am totally aware of what a big opportunity this is for me and I’ll do my best to achieve the results.
It certainly will not be easy with the entry of riders like my team-mate Anthony West and Noriyuki Haga, the level of competition this year has certainly increased.
However, I can’t wait to sit on my new bike for the first time!” commented Muff.
While team owner Danilo Soncini seems over the top regarding his return to the racing scene:“I’m still excited about everything that has happened in these past two months.
The decision to leave racing had left an emptiness that I was unable to fill in any other way than returning to racing, then there was an opportunity to compete in BSB.
The championship is really the ultimate expression of passion for motorcycling and to be able to compete as an Elite Team fills me with pride.
The list of people that I have to thank for this project seems never-ending as so many have contributed to make this dream come true.
We are ready to entertain and have fun!”