BSB Cadwell: Tim Neave to make Superbike debut with Buildbase Suzuki

Tim Neave will make his Superbike class debut at Cadwell Park
Tim Neave will make his Superbike class debut at Cadwell Park
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Tim Neave will make his Bennetts British Superbike debut this weekend at Cadwell Park, stepping in for the injured Danny Kent.

Kent dislocated and fractured his hip in an accident at Donington Park last weekend, falling at Coppice. The 2015 Moto3 world champion was struck by his Buildbase Suzuki GSX-R1000R in the gravel trap and is now awaiting surgery.

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Neave has been competing the Superstock class for the team, however he himself missed the second race at Brands Hatch and the entire Thruxton meeting with a shoulder injury. Neave ended the 2020 season fifth overall with one victory and one further podium.

“Obviously I wish Danny a speedy recovery,” Neave said. “I’ve spoken to him, and he’s been great, wished me luck and told me to go out and enjoy it, and that’s what I’m planning on doing. I’m really excited, and I couldn’t be making my debut with a better team. I’ve never ridden a Superbike, I’ve never even ridden on slicks, and I’ve also never worked with a data guy, so I’m going to have so much to learn, but it’s still a motorbike with two wheels, the throttle goes both ways.

“The session today – a three-hour test held on Thursday evening – will really help, though. I think we’ll start by softening everything off, give myself as much feel as possible, and then go from there; as I get more comfortable and go faster we can dial-in some more support. But I’m not setting any targets, the only aim is to improve in every session, and if we can do that, I’ll be happy.”

Kent isn’t the only rider to be ruled out of the Cadwell Park race meeting. Danny Buchan will not race after suffering a concussion at Donington Park last weekend, whilst Kyle Ryde will be replaced by James Hillier at the Rich Energy OMG Racing team after injuring himself at the Chicane during Thursday evening’s test session.

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