Source: Supplied.

Multiple national champion Bryan Staring will join Kawasaki BCperformance Racing Team for the 2018 Australian Superbike Championship (ASBK), making a welcome return to the ZX-10R that he campaigned overseas.

Staring, 29, returned home this season and finished seventh in the standings after encountering multiple DNFs. He will line-up alongside Kyle Buckley in the Kawasaki Motors Australia-supported team.

“I’m wrapt to be racing with the Kawasaki BCperformance Racing Team for 2018,” 2010 ASBK champion Staring said. “Kelvin Reilly displayed his professionalism throughout 2017, showing that both BCperformance and Kawasaki are very competitive.

“Since 2011, I have gained a lot of experience with the Kawasaki Ninja ZX-10R across many different championships around the world and I look forward to partnering with Kawasaki again to take on the ASBK championship with the BCperformance team.”

Buckley put forward a strong rookie season in the Superbike class this year and will return with Kawasaki BCperformance for another season in 2018. At 21 years of age, he was 17th in this year’s championship after missing multiple rounds with a broken leg.

“I’m extremely excited to be able to race the Ninja ZX-10R for another year with Kawasaki BCperformance,” commented Buckley. “2017 wasn’t a year of great luck for me and I am very thankful to Kelvin and Kawasaki Motors for keeping their faith in me. I feel that with this year’s experience, I will be able to get the ball rolling straight away and I can’t wait for the first test!”

Team manager Kelvin Reilly is excited with the line-up that they have for the new year: “With a big thanks to Kawasaki Motors Australia, I am looking forward to another year in the 2018 ASBK championship and I am really pleased to have Bryan Staring on our Kawasaki Ninja ZX-10R for the 2018 season.

“Bryan showed good speed this year in the Australian Superbike Championship and I believe with his experience we will be a real title threat from the start. Kyle Buckley stays for a second season in the Superbike class and during the first three rounds last season he showed great potential by being consistent and top rookie until a leg injury mid-season that put an end to his progress. I’m looking forward to watching his development during his second year on a Kawasaki Ninja ZX-10R.”

Kawasaki Motors Australia national sales and marketing manager Robert Walker showed great enthusiasm about the renewed team partnership and addition of Staring, stating: “Obviously there is a significant history between Bryan Staring and Kawasaki, so we trust that he will settle in and kick some goals with the Kawasaki BCperformance Racing Team next year.

“Kyle Buckley has been a strong contender as well, so we are glad to be backing him through the team which will be our largest supported effort in the ASBK championship. The combination of a proficient racing team and top level riders makes the perfect recipe for success in 2018.”