Team boss Tommy Hill returns to BSB with Chris Walker and Danny Buchan

Former MCE British Superbike champion Tommy Hill will return to the series next year – but as team manager NOT racer. The 2011 winner will manage the Be Wiser Kawasaki team as they step up from National Stock 600 to BSB with Chris ‘Stalker’ Walker and Stock 1000 champion Danny Buchan.

Chris Walker told MCN that he’s really excited to be part of the team, while still retaining his link with Kawasaki.

”I have had a long association with Kawasaki and have worked with Dickies for the last three years so to combine all aspects was a no brainer for me. I have known team owner Alan Greig for a number of years through Dickies and I am looking forward to working with him next year and the future. I have watched Alan progress through the Superstock Championship and this year saw them become Championship contenders, so I have no doubt that he will produce a successful Superbike team and I am keen to help him progress and get the results they deserve.”

Buchan, who dominated the National Superstock 1000 series this year, taking nine wins out of twelve, says he’s relishing the opportunity to learn off two highly experienced team members.

“I believe I am now ready for the move up into the premier British Superbike class and I would like to thank Alan and Tommy for putting their belief in me and giving me this opportunity, and also Kawasaki Motors UK. It is a new team with plenty of experienced heads such as Tommy and Chris who know what it takes to win at BSB level. I wasn’t ready before to move up, I was too young and I know that now, but feel I have progressed this season and learnt my trade and feel now is the right time to step up for me, I can’t wait!”

Hill, who will unveil his self-designed livery at Motorcycle Live, added: “Firstly it is great news to have secured Chris Walker and Danny Buchan for our rider line-up moving towards 2015. Both have once again had a fantastic season and rightly deserve, or retain their seat on a Superbike.

“I am very pleased to be working with two very different but great riders who are both more than capable of success and results, we are very much looking forward to kick starting the Be Wiser Kawasaki Superbike team.”

Team owner Alan Greig, who took the team to third and fifth in Stock 600s in 2013, concluded:

“It’s not every day this sort of offer comes your way so I just had to take on this challenge. Around about the same time I learnt that Tommy Hill was keen to start a new team so it made sense that I made contact with Tommy to see if there was any common ground in joining forces. Tommy had pretty much the same ideas as I did, mostly that if we can’t do it properly, we won’t do it at all.”