Lisburn-based Mar-Train Racing, who will spearhead Yamaha UK's official International Road Racing effort in 2015 & 2016, have finally got their man, securing the services of Bradford's Dean Harrison for the next two seasons.

Harrison, who was dominant at Scarborough on the Mar-Train Yamaha R6 earlier this year, and also took two fourth places in the Supersport class at the Isle of Man TT, will join team owner Tim Martin at Yamaha's official launch of the all-new R1 today in Milan.

Harrison leaves behind the RC Express Kawasaki team, with whom he also enjoyed tangible success this season - most notably a TT podium - to become Yamaha's leading man between the hedges in 2015-16. As expected the Yorkshire man was in great demand with local team Wilson Craig Racing also keen to secure his signature.

But the lure of riding the all-new Yamaha R1 made it a straightforward choice for the fast talking Englishman.

"I'm obviously delighted to be part of the Mar-Train set-up again next season, but pretty excited at the prospect of riding this new R1, which is getting great reviews," said Harrison.

"To be here in Milan to see the launch of the new bike is special and now that we have done the deal, it's also great to be the main Yamaha team on the roads, which will no doubt bring us a lot of attention."

Harrison was prolific at the Southern 100 in all classes earlier in the season and despite crashing out at the Ulster Grand Prix in August, sustaining a number of injuries, he's confident of being at the sharp end next year with Mar-Train Yamaha.

" We go racing to win and we've got the job sorted pretty much with the Mar-Train R6. It's just a matter of getting acquainted with the new R1, which looks like it's going to be a top bike straight out of the box," he enthused.



Paul Lindsay
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