BSB: Redding signs deal with Be Wiser Ducati for 2019

Scott Redding will make the move to the Bennetts British Superbike championship in 2019 having signed a deal with the Be Wiser Ducati team.

Rumours of a Redding/PBM link-up have been circulating since the start of summer, but the Grand Prix winner didn’t meet the Cumbrian until the British Grand Prix at Silverstone, where a deal began to look more likely.

Redding was ousted from the Aprilia MotoGP team after five seasons in the premier class, and after being unable to secure a top Moto2 seat or proven winning World Superbike seat, the 25-year-old has opted to head to BSB to in an effort to kickstart another chapter of his career.

“Obviously my first goal was to try and stay in MotoGP, which turned out not to be possible. We then looked at Moto2 but this was also difficult,” Redding told MCN in an exclusive first interview.

“When the offer came in from PBM it was quite interesting to me. It took me a lot of time to think about it, trying to understand what direction I need my career to go in and the best move I could make for the future.

“I spoke properly for the first time with Paul about this at Silverstone, where he told me that he wanted me because he wants to win. It was those words that made me realise just how serious he was. The reason I go racing is because I want to win, and to hear that from a team boss is music to my ears. He said it with such a straight face, I could tell he was being deadly serious and that I’d get the best package possible to win in BSB from him. They’ve won six titles in BSB, they don’t mess about.”

Redding had initially dismissed a move to BSB as he was concerned about the safety levels of some of the British tracks, but he says he has since taken a closer look at this.

“I’m not going to lie, when BSB was first mentioned I was worried about safety. It played on my mind a lot, but at the end of the day I thought fuck it, the other guys do it so it can’t be that bad. I’ve never really raced in the UK, I’m looking at it from the outside and maybe that’s not the best way to look at it.  Some places like Cadwell might be an eye opener for me, but that for me is actually something I’m looking forward to. It’s a new bike, new tyres, and a load of new circuits which are completely different. It’s a challenge, but I thrive on a challenge. I want to go there and show what I can do.”

Read the full, exclusive interview with Redding on his BSB move in this week’s MCN.

Redding will be LIVE on Instagram to answer questions about his new ride at 17:00 UK time.