Image: Keith Muir.

Newly-crowned Australian Supersport Champion Brayden Elliott will transition to the Superbike category in 2016, continuing his association with Suzuki on board a GSX-R1000.

Elliott will again work alongside Phil Tainton and Shawn Giles this season, however it’s not yet announced what series he will campaign during this year.

“Last year was a very successful one for myself, which I definitely owe to the people around me that made it possible,” Elliott explained. “To be continuing my partnership with Phil Tainton and Shawn Giles throughout 2016 is something I see as a great advantage that will be a huge benefit in making the transition into the Superbike class.

“I feel our team worked together as a family throughout 2015, all working toward the same goal, striving to improve and succeed. These foundations are something that I gain confidence from to take with us into the Superbike category and I couldn’t be happier with the people supporting me.”

“I have always been a person and a racer that likes to set a goal, give it everything to achieve that goal and continue to move onto the next challenge. Being only my third year on a road bike, things have certainly happened fast however after achieving what I set out for in 2015. I want to continue moving forward, keep the motivation high and continue working toward my racing goals.”

The switch from Supersport to Superbikes will be a new challenge for Elliott, who will have his first test aboard the team’s GSX-R1000 race bike later this month.

“The Superbike class definitely has some extremely experienced riders to contend with being the highest level of road racing in Australia,” he added. “Watching these riders in the past and trying to learn from them has been great and I’m sure being out on track racing against them will be another huge learning curve in my career and one that I look forward too.

“I will again be on board a Suzuki riding the GSX-R1000, this will be my third year riding Suzuki machinery and I am very happy to be with the brand that has been a part of so much of my racing career. My first test on board the GSX-R1000 will be late January, which I am really looking forward to.

“In my head I know where I would like to be racing during 2016, although I need to be racing against the best riders, due to that reason I need to be where the factory teams are competing here in Australia. This will be a big influence as to which championship I will take part in, I aim to announce this over the coming weeks.”