Iddon joins Bimota team for BSB Assen

Christian Iddon will join the Alstare Junior team at next weekend’s Assen round of the MCE British Superbike championship, coming onboard as the team’s WSB effort was axed by homologation rules. Returning to the track where he became the first ever rider to win a British championship race back in 2012, in the supersport class, Iddon will join French teen Christophe Ponsson on a second BB3.

Ruled out of WSB after failing to produce enough of the BMW-engined superbikes to meet the series’ strict regulations, it is nonetheless a bonus for BSB. Having already raced Assen on the Bimota this year during WSB, Iddon should bring a competitive machine to the races.

“I’m really excited to race at Assen because we have had such a long break in our calendar – I just hope I haven’t forgotten how to ride, it feels it has been that long! Assen is a mega track and for me it will be great to be back in front of a BSB crowd again. I know lots of fans that are going over so it should be a really big event.”

“We’ve raced at Assen already in WSB, so I feel pretty lucky that we can have another go next weekend! The specification of the bike is obviously different between the two championships but the track knowledge should certainly play into our hands. When we raced there earlier in the year the Bimota was in its infancy in terms of development and I feel that as a team we have made big steps forward with it since then, so it will be good to see the difference.”

“The racing in BSB has been fantastic this season and I know how good the competition is as I have raced there before – they are world class riders on the grid. I know there are the top six and the Showdown but to be honest I think the whole field is closer in BSB at the moment. Looking at the lap times, there is very little between them. I want to help Christophe and the team with the development and enjoy the weekend but at the same time I know it will be cut-throat once my race brain engages on track!”

Team owner Benjamin Batta condluded: “It is a great opportunity to have Christian and his squad with us at Assen. We have much to learn from their experience and I am sure that this will help us to progress. Christophe Ponsson is really looking forward to the next round after his unlucky weekend at Donington, so I hope he will benefit from his team-mate’s knowledge.”