Words: Russell Colvin

Image: Russell Colvin.

Three-time Australian Superbike champion Glenn Allerton will be lining up on next year’s Australian Superbike Championship (ASBK) grid with Next Gen Motorsports, after he put pen to paper in a one-year deal.

The 36-year-old New South Welshman, who finished this year’s ASBK series off strongly by scoring two podium finishes at Sydney Motorsport Park and Phillip Island, will reunite with the team he won the 2011 and 2014 titles with.

“The Next Gen Motorsports team and I have a great relationship, where we are like a family,” Allerton told CycleOnline.com.au. “I’m excited to be back working with BMW, as the relationship was always good there.

“For me, it’s really refreshing to have a group of people who are excited and believe in me. They know I can win races, as I have won with them before.”

When Next Gen Motorsports looked as if they were going to completely disband at the end of 2014, Allerton was forced to search elsewhere for a ride, which saw him racing as part of the Yamaha Racing Team for the past three years.

“Next Gen Motorsports and I didn’t leave each other because I wanted to leave back then,” he added. “It was simply because the team didn’t have a budget at the time and I had to try and find something else.

“I would really like to thank both Wayne [Hepburn] and Nathan [Webb] for approaching me about this project for 2018. When I broke my arm this year, Wayne was a big supporter of me. He came up to my house and stayed there for a while and encouraged me, making sure I was motivated to get back to full fitness. That goes to show what sort of people they are at Next Gen Motorsports.”

To date, Allerton has tested the all new BMW S 1000 RR twice, being at Winton Motor Raceway, then again the following week at the Phillip Island Grand Prix Circuit. Allerton labelled the 2018 German-built machine as an improvement compared to past versions and he will partner 18-year-old Ted Collins next season.

“The new chassis works really well and the power is simply unbelievable,” explained Allerton. “It’s one of the fastest bikes I have ever ridden. We have ridden together already from the first test and I seem to get along with Ted. He’s open to learn and he’s proven he’s a fast rider, winning the Australian Supersport Championship this year.

“I’m really looking forward the year ahead. A lot of support from BMW has come through to make this happen. It’s just a nice feeling to know people believe in you and they want what you want, which is to win races. To win races is what I’m here to do and I’ll be pushing as hard as I can to win as many races in 2018.”