DiClemente explains Suzuki/Ducati mix.

Dienza principal Enzo DiClemente will be in the unusual situation of running two different brands of bike, in two different British championship classes, under one team this season.

The Dienza-run Samsung Superbike Team will enter Dean Thomas on a Suzuki GSX-R1000 in the premier BSB class, while Jon Kirkham will ride Ducati's new 1098 in the British Superstock championship.

So just how did that unusual combination come about?

"Let's start at the beginning: I approached Paolo Ciabatti in Italy, who people probably know used to be the head honcho at Ducati, to run 999s this year in British Superbike," DiClemente told Crash.net Radio. "Paolo said there were none available, which there aren't because they're not making any. I left it at that and decided to run Suzukis.

"Paolo then phoned me back and said 'would I be prepared to do Superstock?' I said 'no'. He said 'why not?' I said 'because it'll cost me money for nothing' and he said 'no, no - we'll back you', as in Ducati Italia.

"So we've got backing from them to run the 1098 in the UK. Ducati want, I think, to develop the 1098 in Superstock hopefully with a view for Superbike, and with our close relationship with Ducati it made sense.

"So that's why we're actually backed by Ducati Italy for Superstock with Jon Kirkham and in Superbike we're getting a lot of help from Suzuki and Crescent to run Dean Ellison," he explained.

And what are your targets for 2007?

"Oh god! After the last couple of years we've had..." smiled Enzo. "Dean's good enough to mix it with the top boys. Don't get me wrong, we're not going to got out there and win loads and loads of races but Dean is more than capable of putting the Samsung Suzuki top eight, or top six. I'll never tempt fate, but I think Jon is definitely a top five easily on the Samsung Ducati.

"But more than anything, after a tough time last year, I want to enjoy the racing again - not just me, but also my team and riders. That's the main aim."