BSB » Watanabe joins TAS

I wonder if he came with a free pair of new factory Suzuki Superbikes and some cash...

Odd move!!!

Why go from the "official" Suzuki team to a satellite outfit? (Unless Rizla didn't want to keep him on?)

Oh well...

This is a team to watch next year both in BSB and on the roads. Quietly they have moved onwards and upwards

Are Crescent competing next year? No riders announced and the factory backed rider has gone to another Suzuki team

I would imagine that Suzuki are paying him to be in the series and you have the guy in your team as a condition of running factory bikes. He has been a disappointment compared with Haga and Kagayama and probably Rizla have moved him to get some real racers onboard. Seems like a sensible move to me and means that TAS probably get a free rider and some more factory parts

QuickNick, Crescent Suzuki have signed Sylvain Guintoli for 2009...

Yep, definitely a move to draw in the better equipment. Although if Watanabe is one of these guys who takes a season to learn tracks TAS may have a contender on there hands. Look at previous Japanese champs, Kiyo, Yukio, Tamada..... no push overs...

Presumably with Suzuki releasing a new model for next year which is significantly different from this years (all new engine design) the reason for this change is that Watanabe will be the development link with the factory for both Rizla and Relentless. I beleive his contract is with Suzuki Japan so they pay his wages. Re who will partner Sylvain Guintoli At Rizla in BSB - I hope it is Ellison because I think Jack Valentine will get more out of him than Tuxworth / Beltran at HM Plant Honda.

Hmm, I was thinking of the Stalker returning but got to admit Ellison deserves a factory ride, HM plant or Airwaves? Yamaha would be a great option for him.

markg, i reckon that ellison should get crutchlows seat, after all elli's tallent has never been in question just the bike he's on at the time