Crescent BSB future in doubt as Suzuki give backing to TAS
Added on Thursday, October 21st, 2010 by Carole Nash Editor
Crescent BSB future in doubt as Suzuki give backing to TAS
The future of BSB team Worx Crescent Suzuki is in doubt after Suzuki GB announced that it would only provide support for the TAS Suzuki team in 2011.
The Crescent Suzuki team, which took Tommy Hill to third in the rider’s standings this season, has been told that it will not receive support from Suzuki GB in 2011 because of cost cutting measures by the manufacturers.
TAS Suzuki will be the only team with Suzuki factory support next season after they proposed plans to run in British Superbike, Supersport and in road racing competitions.
“I can confirm that there will be no official support for Crescent for BSB activity next year,” Crescent owner Paul Denning told MCN. “We’re disappointed but we understand that it’s a commercial necessity, purely on Suzuki’s side.
“We did put in a proposal to run a two-man British Superbike team but we understand that TAS did the same but their proposal included Supersport and the roads. From a Suzuki GB budget point of view, it is understandable why they have gone with TAS, though I don’t agree with their decision because I think it takes specialisation to win a BSB title.”
TAS team owner Phil Neill sympathised with Crescent, telling the paper: “I’m sure it was a very difficult situation for Suzuki. They made it clear from early in season that they might not be able to support two teams.”
Speculation has suggested that Crescent could switch to Yamaha machinery in 2011 after opening a Yamaha franchise earlier this year, although such a move would require significant changes according to Denning.
“Going racing with another manufacturer is possible but it would be a big step for us to do that,” he added. “If we did change, then it would have to be with the blessing of the (Suzuki) factory in Japan.”
