Iddon scaling Shard heights
CHRISTIAN Iddon joined Josh Brookes and the defending Bennetts British Superbike champions Paul Bird Motorsport (PBM) as they got their season off to a high-flying start launching their 2020 livery from the plush and world-famous surroundings of The View from The Shard in London this evening.
In keeping with their reputation as Britain’s most successful BSB team, who have now won a total of seven BSB titles and over one hundred races, they chose Britain’s tallest building to unveil the factory-supported VisionTrack Ducatis to be ridden by Iddon and Brookes this season.
In front of a select number of celebrity and VIP guests and with the bright lights of London in the background, as well as the open-air Skydeck some 244m (800ft) above the capital’s streets, team owner Paul Bird welcomed sponsors both new and old to the exclusive event, the first of its kind to be held in the 95-storey skyscraper, designed by the Italian architect Renzo Piano.
An ultra-successful season in 2019 saw the Penrith, Cumbria-based team win their seventh BSB title.
Iddon from Stockport, secured the 2019 BSB Rider’s Cup with a great performance late in the season having suffered a broken leg earlier in the year and although he didn’t miss any races, it hindered his chances of the title. Still to win a race in BSB, he has secured 12 podiums from his 135 starts since his debut in 2010.
Christian said; “This year is obviously a huge year for me, signing for the VisionTrack PBM Ducati squad - the team that went 1-2 in the Championship last year, and the bike that went 1-2-3. It’s a huge moment in my career just getting to this point.
“First up I need to thank Paul Bird for putting his faith in me. Of course I feel I fully deserve it, but I do realise there were more likely candidates.
“I really appreciate this opportunity and it’s one I intend to grasp in it’s entirety.
“The Team’s past speaks for itself, they’re the most successful in BSB history, and coming off what I believe is the most successful Championship challenge of any Team in the history of BSB.
“I know I’ve got the whole package around me.
“Within motorsport it never is a level playing field, but for the first time in my career I feel like I’ve got the package to be on. Pre-season training is going well. I’ve spent the last few weeks out in Spain, I’ll be here for a month, ready for testing to start at the end of February and in to March.
“Just going to take it day-by-day, one step at a time, just looking forward to having a really strong season and trying to show what I’m capable of”.