TAS Racing confirmed as official BMW team for 2015
As predicted, Northern Ireland's TAS Racing has confirmed its status as BMW Motorrad's official MCE British Superbike and international road racing squad for 2015.
The announcement today beings to an end speculation surrounding the team's plans, with a change to the German manufacturer mooted since the end of October.
A statement last week confirmed that TAS Racing had severed its ties with Suzuki after a successful 14-year association, paving the way for official confirmation of the new BMW collaboration.
Ulsterman Michael Laverty and English rider Tommy Bridewell will lead the team's British Superbike challenge on the all-new BMW S1000-RR, replacing American John Hopkins and Aussie Josh Waters, who both failed to make it into the all-important Showdown this season.
Alastair Seeley also returns to the TAS Racing set-up to contest the Pirelli National Superstock 1000 series plus the North West 200.
On the roads, Guy Martin and William Dunlop have been retained for the North West 200, Isle of Man TT and Ulster Grand Prix, plus selected national meetings.
Tyco Security Products will remain as the main sponsor of Philip and Hector Neill's team, which will run under the official title of Tyco BMW.
Laverty returns to the British Superbike Championship after two years spent in the MotoGP World Championship with Paul Bird Motorsport, while Bridewell joins the team after clinching an impressive third place in the 2014 Showdown on the Milwaukee Yamaha.
Team manager Philip Neill said: "It really is a great honour for TAS Racing to be chosen by BMW to spearhead their racing efforts in 2015, and everyone involved has been very supportive in helping us put the correct package together.
"Although our agreement is with BMW in the UK, the support we have received from BMW in Germany is already very encouraging. We will have full support from the factory both technically and personnel wise next season to help us achieve our goals.
"We put a lot of thought into our rider line-up for 2015 and as always the goal is to win races both in British championship and also at international level on the roads," he added.
"We fully expect to be championship contenders in British Superbike and the National Superstock class next season racing BMW's S1000-RR, and on the roads I've every confidence that William and Guy will also benefit from riding top class Tyco BMW machinery."
Lee Nicholls, BMW Motorrad Marketing and PR Manager, said: "It is with great pleasure that we can finally announce BMW Motorrad's support of the TAS Racing team for the 2015 British Superbike and road racing season.
"In 2014, BMW Motorrad had its most successful season of racing ever in the UK, which has enabled us to increase our support to both the British Superbike and road racing paddocks for 2015. The TAS Racing team will spearhead our assault on track, and on the roads, and will receive the full technical support from our BMW Motorrad Motorsports team in Munich within the framework of the BMW Customer Racing Strategy," he added.
"As a company we are very much looking forward to working with Philip and his team and we are confident that together with the all-new S1000-RR we will challenge for podiums and wins across the UK and Ireland next year."
Michael Dunlop clinched a hat-trick of TT victories in the Superbike, Superstock and Senior races after securing BMW Motorrad backing with the Hawk Racing team this year but the 25-year-old has yet to reveal his plans for 2015 and has been linked to a string of manufacturers.