Rizla Suzuki's search for a Scottish Star.

Rizla Suzuki has teamed up with the Knockhill Racing Circuit in Scotland and leading motorcycle magazine TWO to launch its 'Rizla Suzuki Search for a Scottish Star' to find the best and most promising racing talent in Scotland.

Niall Mackenzie, a triple British Superbike Champion and experienced GP racer, is the eminently qualified superstar who will grade all riders who take part and then pick a winner who will receive a full factory backed Rizla Suzuki GSX-R600 to race in the Jock Taylor meeting at Knockhill on October 3rd 2004.

Rizla Suzuki's search for a Scottish Star.

Rizla Suzuki has teamed up with the Knockhill Racing Circuit in Scotland and leading motorcycle magazine TWO to launch its 'Rizla Suzuki Search for a Scottish Star' to find the best and most promising racing talent in Scotland.

Niall Mackenzie, a triple British Superbike Champion and experienced GP racer, is the eminently qualified superstar who will grade all riders who take part and then pick a winner who will receive a full factory backed Rizla Suzuki GSX-R600 to race in the Jock Taylor meeting at Knockhill on October 3rd 2004.

Mackenzie, who organises track days at the Knockhill circuit in Scotland, is a test and development rider for Rizla Suzuki and the road test editor for TWO. His desire to find the next great riding talent in Scotland has been the main driving force behind this collaboration.

Anyone over the age of 18 who enters the highly successful Niall Mackenzie Track Day Schools held at Scotland's National Motorsport Centre at Knockhill will be eligible for the competition. There will be a total of eight of these days held throughout 2004, starting in April. This competition is aimed at finding new talent, so entrants are not permitted to hold or have held any form of motorcycle race license.

One 'star' pupil from each of Mackenzie's track days will be chosen to go forward into a final selection on track at a special day at Knockhill. Mackenzie will preside over the selection process to determine the final winner, who will be entered for their race license and given a full factory Rizla Suzuki GSX-R600 to race at the famous Jock Taylor memorial.

"This is a fantastic way to find new talent and give it a real foot-up into racing," explained Mackenzie. "My final race ever was at Donington last year and there's nothing I am more passionate about than motorcycle racing and encouraging new talent in the UK and particularly Scotland.

"Getting a break into racing can be hard, so this Rizla Suzuki Search for a Star competition is open to anyone who is above the age of 18, can bring their own bike to the trackday and has never owned a race license. That leaves it wide open for riders to have a go and I will be choosing who I think has got the most potential to make it in racing.

"I can't think of a better way for anyone to get into big-time racing. Knockhill is a fantastic track that will sort the potential winners from also-rans, TWO magazine is offering big publicity for the winner and Rizla Suzuki is the premier British Superbike team and it is prepared to support the winner with a competitive bike at their first race meeting. After that, it'll be up to the winner to make his own career, but he'll have had a very good start that's for sure."

"This is a truly magnificent prize which will culminate in a fantastic, never to be forgotten weekend for one lucky person," added Knockhill's PR and communications manager Ray Smith, "and we confidently expect the demand for the limited places on the track days to be overwhelming."

"Rizla Suzuki wants to help foster new talent in racing, and through our link with Knockhill and Niall we believe that our Search for a Scottish Star opens the door to the world of racing to masses of riders who have road bikes and licenses," summed up Rizla Suzuki team manager Paul Denning. "Potentially anyone who attends one of these qualifying track days could have their racing dreams come true."

For more details on the qualifying Knockhill track days and prices to attend, please call 01383 720044 or visit www.rizla-suzuki.co.uk for regular updates.

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