Coghlan looks forward to strong Superstock season

Britain’s Kev Coghlan looks like being a real challenger for success with his MRS team in the 2015 FIM Superstock 1000 FIM Cup, riding the all new Yamaha R1 alongside French rider and former WSS rival Florian Marino.

Coghlan, a three time podium finisher in WSS, already has form in the Superstock 1000 Championship, riding a Ducati Panigale in that class in 2012 and scoring a podium in the process.

In 2015 he has former WSB race winner Adrien Morillas’ respected team behind him and top-level back up to look forward to. He has already ridden the R1 in a shakedown test at Alcarass in Spain shortly before Christmas, albeit not in the best weather conditions.

With limited option for further progression in WSS in 2015 Coghlan opted to re-join the Stock 1000 class and continue his Yamaha connection in the process. “I was looking around at options for Stock and WSS but the options in Supersport were not really going to be a step forward from this year, or were something I could really make something of. When I got the call from Morillas it sounded like something new to try and something with a future in it. I also spoke to Markus Eschenbacher who was involved with my Yamaha WSS team last year, building the bike, and he will be involved again this year in building the R1. He filled me with a bit of confidence as well that the bikes will be on point.”

Coghlan looks to be just one of several strong riders in Superstock in 2015, especially now the age limit has been raised from 24 to 28.

“It looks like it will be a strong grid but the fact that it is an officially backed team by Yamaha was a big part to play in it and it looks like we will have a lot of testing and be quite heavily involved in developing the bike a bit,” said Coghlan. “With more guys being involved in the championship – if you are going well it looks better. It could open some doors for the future.”

The first round of Superstock does not take place until April, in Motorland Aragon, but for Coghlan and Yamaha this may be no bad thing. “The late start may be in our favour with the bike being brand new, as it will give us a chance to do a bit of testing and get up to speed,” said the Scot. “The long break in the middle of the year looks worse, because we will have to find something to do in there!”