BCperformance can officially announce they will run a Junior team in this year’s Australian Superbike Championship (ASBK), which will be known as the BCperformance Junior Team, which will see eighteen year old Jimmy Broadbent and twenty-two year old Yannis Shaw as their riders.
In his third season with the team, Broadbent, who hails from Freshwater, New South Wales, will spearhead an assault in the cut throat Supersport category aboard a Kawasaki ZX-6R machine in the 2017 ASBK series.
After a successful test at the Phillip Island Grand Prix Circuit at the official ASBK test last week, which saw Broadbent finish the day with a 1min45.417, the young gun is more than fired up for this year’s championship battle.
“I’m over the moon with the opportunity Kelvin Reilly and the team have offered me,” said Broadbent, whose goals are to set new personal best lap times in every session at the opening round.
“I believe that with the experience and knowledge of the team will really help me learn my way around the Kawasaki Ninja ZX-6R Supersport bike,” added Broadbent.
Broadbent, who is also aiming to be the fastest rookie in the championship at all the rounds this year, explained that he was extremely lucky to get this opportunity. He does understand that 2017 will be a big learning curve as he comes to grips with the more powerful 600cc machine.
“I’m moving off a successful year off the Ninja 300 and I feel like I’m in the perfect position to step onto the Ninja ZX-6R for this year’s ASBK series. I have to say a massive thanks to Kelvin and all the sponsors. I can’t wait for the year ahead,” concluded Broadbent.
Shaw, who ended up ninth fastest overall at last week’s official test with a time of 1min55.300 in the fourth and final session in the newly branded 300 Championship said; “I’m really happy to continue riding for BCperformance in this year’s championship.”
2016 was Shaw’s ‘learning year’ which he explained was a strong season for both himself and BCperformance. He believes 2017 will be a good year and is positive that he will be able to fight it out for the Supersport 300 Championship.
“I look forward to some close racing with some good racers with the best team in Australia. 2017 is going to be a good year and I can’t wait to get back on board my Kawasaki Ninja 300 at the opening round at Phillip Island in less than two weeks’ time,” concluded Shaw.
The opening round of the ASBK series gets underway on the final weekend of February at the Phillip Island Grand Prix Circuit, which runs in conjunction with the FIM World Superbike Championship.
Round 1: Phillip Island (VIC) 23-26 FEB
Round 2: Wakefield Park (NSW) 17-19 MAR Round 3: Winton Motor Raceway (VIC) 28-30 APR Round 4: TBA TBA
Round 5: Morgan Park Raceway (QLD) 25-27 AUG Round 6: Sydney Motorsport Park (NSW) 8-10 SEP Round 7: Phillip Island (VIC) 6-8 OCT
