Easton joins Hopkins at Tommy Hill Yamaha

Stuart Easton will join John Hopkins at his former teammate Tommy Hill’s new Yamaha team for the 2016 MCE British Superbike championship.

Easton had one of his best ever starts to a BSB season capped by injury, with the Scotsman taking a win and sitting in third place in the series when a mechanical problem at Brands Hatch fired him into the gravel at 150mph and left him with multiple injuries to his legs, knee and ankles.

But with a winter of recovery behind him, he says he’s hoping to come out of the blocks firing on all cylinders.

“The first half of this season was great and I felt like I was doing a good job until it went pear shaped again! It’s another lesson learned though and I just want to concentrate on 2016 get my head down and do the best job I can for THM ePayMe Yamaha.

“Like Hopper I am so excited to join Tommy’s new ePayMe Yamaha team and can’t wait to try out the R1 on track. I’m looking forward to working for Tommy as a former rider and recent champion he sees it from a rider’s perspective, which is important.”

Likewise, 2011 champion Hill says that from the discussions he’s already had with the SMR squad who took him to title victory – and who are in line to prepare his machinery for next season after they took victory with Josh Brookes and the new R1 this year – had left him filled with confidence.

“I am delighted to have signed Stuart Easton to the new THM ePayMe Yamaha team for 2016. I have rated Stuart for many years, rode with him as a teammate and really feel he is more than capable of pushing for more race wins in 2016 given the right package and team of guys to support him doing this.

“Talking closely with the SMR team who have worked with Stuart in the past feel Easton’s riding style will really match the characteristic’s of the new YZF-R1. So it’s an exciting time with our two new signings, and I hope we have a great season for them both”