Relentless boss confident of title challenge

Relentless by TAS Suzuki manager Philip Neill believes his team is well positioned to challenge for the 2010 British Superbike Championship title after completing its rider line-up with Michael Laverty.

Laverty returns to the Irish-based team in 2010 having helmed TAS Racing's first foray into Superbikes back in 2008, the 28-year-old showing flashes of pace in that season to finish the year 9th overall.

He will join Alastair Seeley, who has been rewarded for his dominant turn with Relentless by TAS Suzuki in the Superstock series with a chance to ride Superbikes with the same team.

Despite not yet being able to reach the podium at Superbike level, with two British champions on board (Laverty won British Supersport Championship in 2007), Neill is nonetheless setting his sights high for 2010.

"Not many teams can boast the services of two British champions, which we have secured in Michael Laverty and Alastair Seeley," he said. "It's fair to say our plans for this season have taken a little longer than normal to finalise as we did our best to consider the requirements of our sponsors.

"With this in mind, 2010 carries increased expectations from TAS Racing and its riders, but I am more than confident, we have chosen the correct line up in order to meet these requirements.

"As a team we will enter our third term in British Superbike, and having already secured both the British Supersport and Superstock Championships, we are now ready to challenge the front running teams for the Superbike title.

"As a team, we fully believe the Relentless Suzuki GSX-R 1000 is the correct tool for the job and with one year's development behind us already, we will hit the ground running when our testing programme begins in Spain during early March."

"Alastair was provisionally confirmed as part of our line up in November after delivering the 2009 British Superstock title, which in my eyes could not go unrewarded. His youthful enthusiasm belies his experience, and together with his calculated style of racing, I believe he will deliver success beyond everyone's expectation in his rookie Superbike season."

"Michael returns to TAS Racing after a year competing in AMA Superbike with considerable success. He will be charged with the task of spearheading our development programme, whilst challenging for a top three championship position, in this all important year.

"I firmly believe, Michael has not yet had the opportunity to deliver his full potential in British Superbike racing and together with my enthusiastic work force, I am happy to put my faith in Michael."

Relentless by TAS Suzuki competed with Ian Lowry and Atsushi Watanabe in 2009, the former ending the season an impressive fifth overall, the latter struggling in 27th.