Champions reunite as Stevens sets sights on more sidecar glory

Bournemouth Kawasaki Racing team owner Pete Extance, left, Ricky Stevens, centre, and Ryan Charlwood, right

After racing to victory in 2015 and successfully defending their title in 2016, sidecar driver Stevens, and Dover-based passenger Charlwood, joined BKR at Motorcycle Live at the NEC in Birmingham to reveal their plan for next year – which sees the new team run with JG Speedfit as title sponsor.

The pair will team up with 2016 MCE BSB runner-up Leon Haslam and showdown contender Luke Mossey, as well as road-racer James Hillier to race under the name JG Speedfit Cool Kawasaki as they make their bid for a triple championship in 2017.

Charlwood said: ‘It’s a privilege to be in the same team as Luke and Leon – both are extremely talented BSB riders.

‘We have found that being part of a superbike team has been really beneficial to us over the past couple of years so we were keen to do it again.

‘We’re truly delighted to be part of a title-fighting team in 2017.

‘It puts the pressure on us to up our game even further and that is exactly what we intend to do.’

The new JG Speedfit Kawasaki team line-up will spearhead Kawasaki UK’s assault on the British Superbike Championship and the British Sidecar Championship.

Stevens said: ‘To be part of a factory team is a bit of a dream come true for us.

‘We will now benefit from the direct support of Kawasaki UK during the 2017 season and that is invaluable.

‘It will really help move us forward.’

Pete Extance, team owner of BKR, said: ‘JG Speedfit’s investment, along with Kawasaki UK, has allowed us to put in place our most competitive team line-up for the British Superbike Championship, British Sidecar Championship, North West 200 and Isle of Man TT.

‘We are delighted that Ricky and Ryan will once again lead our attack on the 2016 British Sidecar Championship.

‘I know they are already working extremely hard as they embark on the challenge of securing their third successive title.’