Craig Fitzpatrick has unveiled his plans for the 2010 season, and will race for the Close Print Finance Honda team on a 2010 Fireblade. The former British Supersport Cup Champion has elected to make the step-up to the newly formed British Superbike Evo Championship.
The new Evo Championship will run as part of the headline British Superbike Championship with Evo competitors battling for their own championship whilst racing wheel to wheel with the factory BSB machines. The regulations for the Evo series allow a full Superbike specification rolling chassis, but with stock engines, in an attempt to control the costs.
With a number of offers on the table, Fitzpatrick has opted to run his own team, with backing from title sponsor Close Print Finance. The team will also be backed by BLDS Couriers, Slingshot Racing, Race Developments, Bowie Construction and Raptor Superpaint. Fitzpatrick has also forged a working relationship with the University of Derby and a number of Motorsport Degree students will be able to gain some valuable experience on co-ordinated placements throughout the season.
Fitzpatrick and the Close Print Finance Honda team have got a busy couple of months ahead as they prepare for the opening round of the season at Brands Hatch on April 3/4/5th. The team are aiming to travel to Portimao, Portugal for their first test session in February, before moving onto Spain for two tests during the first week in March.
In an interview with moto-media.co.uk, Fitzpatrick said: "I am really excited to be making the step-up to the Superbike class with Close Print Finance Honda. The new Evo class in an exciting prospect and should make the championship more sustainable by limiting the costs."
"It's been a few years since I have competed on a 1000cc bike, back in the Superstock class, so it might take a bit of getting used to. Hopefully we will be able to get a few days testing in Spain and Portugal, but we have got a lot of work to do before then. I only picked the bike up yesterday [Friday], so we only have two weeks to get it ready for Portimao."
"The tie-up with the University of Derby's Motorsport Degree course came about from an event we supported last year. The students are required to gain experience through placements and some of them were really keen to get involved with the team. We discussed the opportunity with some of the students and lecturers were impressed by their knowledge and enthusiasm."
Sam Farrington
