Ellison sets sights on return to grid

CUMBRIAN motorcycle racer James Ellison has stirred the British Superbike Championship pot with news that he could be set to return to the grid in 2019.

The Kendal rider has been adamant since the start of 2018 that this season would be his last in the blue riband BSB series, but is now threatening another year in Britain, which he feels could be what he needs to go after the title.

Ellison and American wife Sarah have been juggling life on both sides of the Atlantic since their marriage in 2009, but the Texas native packed up at the end of 2017 and headed back to the USA for the long term, with James intending to follow at the end of this year.

It hasn’t been the greatest of seasons for the former World Endurance champion and ex MotoGP pilot, and last week’s triple-header at Silverstone was possibly his worst round to date.

All he could manage was an 11th, a 13th and a crash, which he hopes to salvage at Oulton Park in today’s two races.

“Silverstone was frustrating weekend and quite difficult,” he said.

“I felt like I was out-riding everybody in front of me and behind me, I really did, and I don’t want to sound big headed.

“We should be at the front but we’re still lacking something, the team is working so hard to find the issue but we’re compromising, and we’re lacking drive grip which then turns into lack of speed.

“I feel that the new suspension link will help at Oulton Park, we haven’t finished a long way behind the leaders there before and the lap times are good so I’m looking forward to it.”

As last season drew to a close, word began to filter out that Ellison was preparing for his final year in the UK, amid rumours he had already inked a deal for a new project in the States.

This year it has been common knowledge from the outset that it was his final season, yet despite a difficult start to the season with the Anvil Hire TAG Racing Yamaha squad, he now says he wants another shot at the title, hinting that suspension could be one of the main issues holding him back.

“It’s been a tough year with lots of sacrifices, both for me and for my family.

“But I want to carry on and get the results I feel I deserve,” he added.

“I’d like to carry on with the TAG Racing team and switch to Öhlins suspension. I’d still be based in America and fly in and out for races, but I want to have another crack at the championship.”