Team WD-40 boss thankful for support after thefts
Team WD-40's managing director Brent Gladwin has heaped praise on his squad for preparing two brand new Kawasaki ZX-10Rs after its original bikes were stolen in a break-in less than a month before the season opener.
The GR Motorsport-prepared squad appealed to the public for help in recovering its two stolen ZX-10R and one ZX-6R machines but with less than three weeks until the 2016 season it had no option but to rapidly build all-new bikes to be ready for the official BSB pre-season tests at Silverstone and Donington Park.
Despite the huge lack of running time and small crashes during the tests both Jack Kennedy and Sam Hornsey came through delighted and roaring to go for the 2016 MCE British Superbike championship which begins this weekend at Silverstone.
Team managing director Gladwin has thanked the 'phenomenal' support shown via social media and the team's reaction the get the bikes ready for the new season in difficult circumstances.
"To say the last three weeks have been stressful is a colossal understatement," Gladwin said. "The support we have received has been phenomenal, we have reached nearly 3.5 million on social media all trying to help recover our stolen bikes.
"I keep being told its character building, but I was sure before the event we had some great characters involved with us. I can tell you it is team building and I do have a great team. I have to thank Jack, Sam and Taz [Mackenzie, Stauff Connect Academy Kawasaki rider] for their patience and support, it's been tough on them watching others testing while they have been waiting for us trying to catch up.
"My team has worked all hours to make sure we will be at Silverstone for the first round of BSB and I am proud to say yes we will be there and competitive."
Despite recovering one bike Gladwin has confirmed two are still lost and he is appealing for any information to help recover the machines.
"Two of our bikes are still missing and I would ask for your vigilance, 90% of the bikes are unique to this team so sooner or later something will turn up somewhere," he said.
