Eugene Laverty will remain a World Superbike rider in 2014 after signing for FIXI Crescent Suzuki. The Irishman had been heavily linked with a move to MotoGP but has opted to stay in the SBK paddock as he looks to go one better than this year when he finished runner-up in the championship to Tom Sykes.
Laverty will test the Suzuki GSX-R1000 for the first time on November 25th at Jerez and is excited to begin his new adventure with the team.
“I’m delighted to join Crescent Suzuki for the 2014 season. I will try the GSX-R1000 for the first time at the end of this month to better understand our potential, and I am really excited to see what I can do with the bike. Thank you to Paul Denning and his team, and to Suzuki, for pushing so hard for this deal and for believing in me. I will give everything I possibly can to bring Suzuki to the top of the podium again!”
Team Manager Paul Denning admits the signing of Laverty puts extra pressure on them to deliver a competitive package next year.
“It is an exciting prospect for the Crescent Suzuki team to have secured the services of a rider of Eugene’s calibre. He has shown regularly this season that he has the determination, ability and technique to secure superb results, even when things are against him. Eugene brings a different level of expectation to the team and it is now up to us to give him the tool for the job. We have made big steps this season with the GSX-R, and with further developments planned for 2014 I am convinced that Eugene will be able to get the maximum potential from the Suzuki.”
