Alex Polita - Photo Credit: Motorsport Vision
Italian star Alex Polita has become the latest overseas rider to join the British Superbike Championship after signing a deal with Jentin Doodson Motorsport. The newly merged squad will be running a pair of Ducati 1199 Panigale machines for Polita and Tom Tunstall, ensuring there will be seven different manufacturers represented in BSB this year.
Polita is a former Italian Superbike Champion, as well as a winner of the World Superstock 1000 title in 2006, but is highly motivated for this new chapter in his career.
“I’m thrilled about joining the Jentin Doodson Motorsport team and face the new challenge of racing in BSB. I’ve always been interested in BSB and I dreamt of racing in the championship. It’ll be an exciting season, full of challenges on lots of new tracks and against really competitive riders. I have to thank my manager Bruno Ponti and Ernesto Marinelli of Ducati and also Barni and my sponsors who have supported me over the past two seasons.”
Teammate and team co-owner Tom Tunstall is delighted to have secured the partnership with the Jentin Racing squad and believes the support from Ducati will assist them as they seek to challenge the big boys this year.
“I'm delighted with the partnership between Bernie and our Doodson Motorsport team. We have very similar attitudes and share common goals. With factory built Panigales, plus backing from Ducati and John Hackett we have built strong foundations for 2012 and the future. It's a fantastic opportunity and sharing the management with Bernie will also help me to focus on my riding, which wasn’t easy when I was running my own team.”
Fellow team co-owner Bernie Toleman is also encouraged by the package they have put together and believes that with Polita on board, the team can have a successful season.
“It certainly promises to be an exciting season ahead for us. Both Tom and myself have put in a tremendous amount of effort to bring our teams together but it has been worthwhile. The all new Ducati Panigale clearly shows tremendous promise and the fact that we have been able to form a technical partnership with JHP provides a massive boost. We are justifiably proud that Ducati Corse have helped with the rider selection and we have been able to bring Alex Polita to BSB on a Ducati. Our intention is to provide both Alex and Tom with all the resources at our disposal to make this season in BSB successful.”
For a full updated list of the teams and riders for 2012, click here.
