TT winner Ian Lougher has switched from Honda to Yamaha for the 2008 Isle of Man event.
It has been confirmed Team Blackhorse has become the official Yamaha UK ‘roads team’.
Welshman Lougher will again lead the team as rider, owner and manager. For ‘08 he will be joined by Olie Linsdell, who proved a sensation at last year’s Manx Grand Prix and is one of the ‘Young Guns’ for TT2008.
The team is continuing its long-time partnership with sponsor Black Horse Motorcycle Finance.
In addition to the TT, Team Blackhorse will contest the Ulster Grand Prix and North West 200.
With unrivalled knowledge, expertise and a full stable of Yamaha state of the art machinery at their disposal Team Blackhorse Yamaha will also be campaigning in the 600cc Supersport, 1000cc Superstock and, for Ian, the prestigious Superbike classes throughout the 2008 racing season.
Team Blackhorse Yamaha will move back into the British short circuit paddock with Linsdell taking on the new Junior 600cc Superstock series.
Lougher said he was honoured to be riding for Yamaha.
He added:
It is a great honour to be flying the Yamaha UK flag on the roads this season. We are very much looking forward to a long and successful association with Yamaha UK and believe the move to Yamaha machinery will be highly beneficial to the team and ultimately, to all our team sponsors.’
‘The involvement of Black Horse Motorcycle Finance Limited, the UK’s largest motorcycling and leisure industry finance house, is a tremendous asset to the team, they're a fabulous group of people and it gives us immense pleasure to be working them again in 2008.’
‘The introduction of Olie to the team this year is something I’m particularly looking forward to. He had a fantastic 2007 season and certainly looks to have the makings of a future motorcycle racing star.’
‘Operating within the BSB series in the Junior 600 Superstock class promises to deliver a whole new range of challenges – a prospect that everyone involved with Team Blackhorse Yamaha is very excited about.’
Linsdell said he is delighted to be involved with Lougher and Team Blackhorse Yamaha.
He added:
‘They are one of the largest and longest established teams in the paddock, and their wealth of experience will be invaluable to myself as an up and coming rider.’
‘The switch to Yamaha is a great boost as it’s looking as though they are going to be the bikes to be on in both Supersport and Superstock classes next year. I’m sure that all of this combined will help to carry my momentum into next season and my results on to the next level.’
Yamaha Motor (UK) managing director Andrew Smith said the manufacturer is ‘totally committed’ to road racing and could not be better represented than by Lougher’s team.
He added:
‘Ian is one of the most consistent and competitive riders out there and the combination of the team, Yamaha and one of our closest business partners, Black Horse Finance, will really set the scene alight in the coming season.’
Black Horse Motorcycle Finance director John Anderson commented the team will go from ‘strength to strength’.
He said:
‘Exciting news for Black Horse Motorcycle Finance regarding the 2008 racing season as Team Blackhorse goes from strength to strength with two great partners, Ian Lougher, the ‘Welsh Wizard’ and Yamaha UK, one of our longest established business relationships.’
‘When Ian asked if we would have any objection to coming together with Yamaha this season, there was little hesitation on our part, as we were linking two very strong brands with the already established and highly visible Team Blackhorse.’
‘Our relationship with Ian goes back some five years and gradually built up to the launch of Team Blackhorse in 2005. We have always found Ian to be the perfect ambassador for both the racing fan and Black Horse Motorcycle Finance.’
‘One thing, for sure, is that with our distinctive livery we certainly stand out in a crowd, and having seen the 2008 colours there will be even greater exposure for both Yamaha and Black Horse Motorcycle Finance.’
‘It also helps when you have a successful rider and team manager as we have in Ian and we are always assured of finishing on the podium, which as market leader in point of sale finance is a very regular experience.’
Find out more about Olie Linsdell and the rest of the 2008 TT ‘Young Guns’ here.