The Padgetts team has today (Wednesday) announced a spectacular line up after securing World Supersport protagonist Luca 'The Rocker' Scassa and Ian Lowry, who remains the most successful BSB rider in a rookie season, as they confirm their 2012 MCE Insurance British Superbike Championship line-up.

Padgetts are the world's most historic and successful private team, having celebrated success across the full racing spectrum from Grand Prix action in the 500cc and 250cc World Championships to the British Supersport, National Superstock classes and the Isle of Man TT, where just 18 months ago they recorded a record five TT race victories at the event. The team have now turned their attentions to MCE BSB and are determined to add Scassa and Lowry to the list of riders who have won with them; previous victors in the past include legends such as Mike Hailwood, Phil Read and Carl Fogarty.

'The Rocker' Scassa joins MCE BSB from the World Supersport Championship where the Tuscan rider secured three race victories and a fifth place overall after officials robbed him of the opportunity to race at Misano, denying him the chance remain in contention for the title fight. Scassa believes he is on a career high and after being awarded '2007 Rookie of the Year' in the AMA Superbike Championship, winning the 2008 Italian Superbike Championship and securing top ten finishes in the World Superbike Championship he is ready to make his mark in MCE BSB.

Scassa said:

"I am very happy about joining BSB, I am looking forward to this new experience and now I can't wait to join the championship. I know some of the tracks already, but of all of them I am most looking forward to Cadwell Park; I have seen the photos of Josh Brookes and I really want to go there! I had the chance to race in WSB and WSS but I am not very old and I like to do something different. I think racing in BSB will give me a better chance in the future; we have seen it in the past with riders like John Hopkins and Jonathan Rea. I have raced with Shakey, Hill and Haga before; they are all strong, fast riders and there are many of those in BSB.

"I came and met the team recently and it was great; they have lots of history in racing and I knew this before I spoke to Clive. They have a lot of experience and I feel happy with the team. I have never ridden a Honda before so it will be interesting for me the first time we test, but it is one of the best bikes to race and I think it will be very good with the rules in BSB. I think at the moment in my career I feel that I am near the top of my riding style and if I can find a good feeling with the Padgetts Honda then we should have good results."

Lowry still holds the strongest performance record of a MCE BSB rider in their debut season; he missed out on the British Supersport Championship title to rival Michael Laverty before progressing to the Superbike class in 2009, taking fifth place in the standings and just missing out on a podium finish. Lowry admits that this season he needs to prove himself all over again and trusts the experienced team around him to help deliver the results in a bid for Superbike success.


Lowry said:

"It is great for me to be back in BSB and I feel this will be a good season for me. The Padgetts team have a huge amount of experience with a proven track record and also the enthusiasm to match. I need to show everyone my true potential this season and this is a great opportunity for me. It is good to be with Honda this year as with the rule changes I think it will be a fantastic package; in past seasons I have always been envious of how good the chassis is straight out of the crate and it should lend itself well to the new regulations. It should throw up a few surprises and I am really up for the new challenge."

Team Owner Clive Padgett concluded:

"Everyone in the Padgetts race team are really looking forward to being back racing in the premier class. The decision to move into Superbike was prompted by the new rules and we will continue to race in the Metzeler National Superstock Championship alongside BSB. We are really excited about working with Ian and Luca. Ian has shown massive promise in the past and we would like to reignite that this year, whilst we have followed Luca's career for several seasons and he has a real passion for racing. This line up and our return to Superbike was meant to be and we are all ready to get things started!"


pic by Pacemaker.

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