McGuinness signs for Quattro Plant Kawasaki

John McGuinness has signed for Quattro Plant Bournemouth Kawasaki for the 2020 road racing campaign, taking on both the Isle of Man TT and North West 200 in the Superbike and Superstock classes.

The road racing legend with 23 TT victories and an unmatched total of 47 podiums switches from Norton to the Kawasaki squad for 2020 following its mutual split with James Hillier who heads to the new-look OMG Racing BMW squad.

Despite his wealth of experience, it will be the first time McGuinness has competed at either the Isle of Man TT or NW200 with Kawasaki ZX-10R machinery, but he did take a Hawk Racing Kawasaki to second place at the 2004 Ulster Grand Prix Superbike race.

McGuinness will team-mate record wins holder Alastair Seeley at the team for the NW200 and will be the team’s sole entrant to this year’s Isle of Man TT.

“I’m delighted to announce my plans for the 2020 International road racing season and equally delighted to be riding for Quattro Plant Bournemouth Kawasaki,” McGuinness said.

“Their record on the roads with James Hillier, in terms of both results and reliability, along with their reputation within the bike industry, speak for themselves and with it being such a family-orientated team, it’s the perfect fit for me. It’s a highly reputable, professional team who have achieved great things on both the roads and the circuits and, for me, they tick all the boxes.

“Pete drove all the way up from Bournemouth to Morecambe to meet me and put the offer on the table and it didn’t take much for me to sign – it was an easy decision.

“Everything made perfect sense and we’ve put together a good plan that will put us in the best position possible for the TT and North West 200. After my performances at Macau, I really got my mojo back and, with my leg now 100%, I feel like I’m as riding as well as ever. Joining Kawasaki and Pete’s team and riding the Ninja ZX-10RR is a new chapter for me, one I’m excited about and really looking forward to.”

“It’s absolutely incredible news that we can welcome road racing legend John McGuinness onto our Quattro Plant Bournemouth Kawasaki machinery,” Pete Extance, team owner, added. “To me, John is Mr TT with his road racing feats elsewhere, at the likes of the North West 200 and Macau Grand Prix, simply superb and what an honour it is to have our Bournemouth Kawasaki dealership associated with him.

“We both know there’s a big job ahead of us to be ready for the new season but it’s one that we know will be great fun. Hopefully, we can put John McGuinness back on the podium at the Isle of Man TT and North West 200 in 2020, the place where we know he belongs.

“Together with Alastair, we have a simply stunning line up of riders for the International road races and we can’t wait for it all to start.”

The Bournemouth-based Kawasaki squad has withdrawn its efforts in BSB for 2020 but remains committed to the roads having secured the most decorated rider line-up on the grid.