GSE Racing reveals new title sponsor.

GSE Racing has announced that HM Plant will be its title sponsor for the 2002-2004 Superbike World Championship seasons.

Team Principal Darrell Healey made the announcement at the HM Plant Ducati team launch on Tuesday 15 January at Silverstone. The Northants circuit will, this season, feature on the superbike calendar for the first time.

The new team livery of the factory HM Plant Ducatis was also revealed and riders Neil Hodgson and James Toseland were presented to more than 100 guests.

"I am absolutely delighted that HM Plant has taken this step forward after the success of its subsidiary sponsorship agreement in the Superbike World Championship with GSE Racing during 2001," said Darrell Healey. "The timing of the announcement is significant as the team enters the first phase of its three-year agreement with Ducati Corse to participate in the increasingly popular world superbike series."

"We are fortunate that we have been able to build a strong network of partners with whom links have been formed and strengthened. There is no doubt that the success, image and professionalism of the team have helped establish mutual and beneficial relationships. In turn, these have helped us to create the team structure that is required to compete at world championship level."

"No one can question the pedigree of Ducati Corse and the factory can be assured that GSE Racing has achieved the level of professionalism necessary to represent Ducati at the highest echelon of the sport. Another key ingredient is the future of Neil Hodgson who has been contracted to Ducati until the end of 2004. Beyond that, James Toseland is Britain's brightest young prospect for superbike success. We are confident the HM Plant Ducati team can provide them with the best opportunity to bring the title back to Britain."

HM Plant Ducati's subsidiary sponsors have been confirmed as Axo Sport, Motorex, Suomy, Dunlop and tbc. In addition, the team will also benefit from the support of Alphabet, Benelli, Born to be Wild, DAF, Dread, Dixon Motors, Henderson Insurance Brokers, MCN, P&O Stena and Showtrax.

HM Plant Ducati will make its first official appearance at the SBK pre-season testing at Phillip Island in Australia later this month.

HM Plant is the UK's number one independent construction supplier, specialising in the distribution of Fiat-Hitachi and Hitachi heavy machinery.