Voltcom Crescent Suzuki show off 2014 contender

Voltcom Suzuki unveiled their 2014 WSB machine last night to a packed crowd at the team’s Verwood base, as Eugene Laverty and Alex Lowes stepped out for the first time in the new livery.

With power network providers Voltcom moving to title sponsor to replace the departing Fixi, the team moves back to a scheme with blue featured more prominently, as well as additional red to create a design more reminiscent of Suzuki’s racing past.

The team will see action for the first time in just two weeks, with a test planned before the opening round of 2014 at Philip Island on the 23rd February.

Speaking at the event, Lowes was candid about his hopes for 2014 but admitted race wins were his goals: :I’m quite hard on myself and I expect a lot, so I’ll push myself to do my very best. I’ll be disappointed if we don’t win a few races and and challenge at the front most of the year. I’ve been to three tracks with the bike now and I’ve been quite fast at all of them, but I know I still need to improve how I ride the bike, and if we can be fast a these three we can work at it and be fast at all of them.”

However, Laverty, who finished second to Tom Sykes in 2013, was not as guarded openly admitting his aim: “I’ll be straight to the point about my aims for the season; I want to win races and challenged for the championship. I finished runner-up last year, and the reason I stayed in WSB this year is to win the title. I’ve been runner-up three times now (twice in World Supersport) and now it’s time to get rid of the bridesmaid’s dress I’ve been wearing for a while!”

The team also unveiled a road bike replica, with upgrades to the stock GSX-R as well as a paint scheme matching the team’s bikes. The replicas are limited and are available from Crescent Suzuki.