WATANABE SET FOR BRITISH SUPERBIKES
 Newly-crowned
Japanese Superbike Champion Atsushi Watanabe will race in
the 2008 British Superbike Championship aboard a Suzuki GSX-R1000
prepared by Crescent.
The 31-year-old Yoshimura Suzuki rider from Hamamatsu, who
also won the title in 2002, has been placed in BSB with a
clear aim of winning the Championship.
Watanabe is learning the English language fast. He said:
"I know BSB is an ultra-competitive Championship that
requires high potential for riders and I have been keen on
challenging there for long time to improve my riding skills.
"I am also excited to ride on UK circuits which are
completely different from those in Japan. I believe this should
be a great honour for my racing career and for those who have
motivated me so much."
Watanabe is already setting his sights high. "Of course,
if you are a rider, your one goal is to be a champion in BSB.
For the future I hope to have a chance to ride at World Superbike
or MotoGP," he added.
He has been speaking to former Suzuki BSB racer and fans
favourite WSB star Yukio Kagayama who has been enthusing him
with what to expect - including the unique circuits, especially
Cadwell Park. Excited at the prospect, Watanabe claims Britain
holds a special place in his heart: "I am so happy to
get a chance to ride in the UK where my hero Barry Sheene
was from."
Rizla Suzuki Team Manager Jack Valentine said: "Atsushi
Watanabe is one of the best kept secrets in Japan. Since 2002
he has won two and finished runner up twice in the Japanese
Superbike Championship, marking him as one of the best.
"He is also a real-life Suzuki Factory rider, with all
the benefits in communication with the Japanese racing arm
that will bring. The placement of Atsushi in BSB shows just
how important the Championship is to Suzuki and its intentions
that it wants to reclaim the title it won in 2004.
"Already Atsushi is developing his character and I think
the British public will take to him very easily. He is very
respectful, honourable and professional…but
at the same time he can't wait to sample the English way of
life and start to enjoy himself here as Yukio has told him
a lot of good things about our way of life. It's going to
be fun helping him to learn the language and I am sure he
will teach us some choice phrases in Japanese as well."
Watanabe is keen to meet the British race fans and will be
attending the International Motorcycle Show at the NEC which
opens to the public on November 23rd before returning to Japan
and then testing the current Rizla Suzuki GSX-R1000.
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