Mar-Train racing can confirm they have agreed to release rider Dean Harrison after two successful campaigns together. The Bradford rider was due to complete a third season with the Yamaha UK outfit but instead will take up an alternative offer after team boss Tim Martin agreed to release him from his contract.

Mar-Train completed their first full season of pure road racing in 2014 as they ran the talented Yorkshire man on supersport machinery alongside their British Championship campaign. Successes at Oliver’s Mount and the Southern 100 as well as an impressive brace of fourth places on their Isle of Man TT debut were enough to convince the Lisburn outfit to retain the twenty six year old’s services for a full assault on the roads in 2015.

Harrison and Mar-Train spent 2015 developing the all new YZF-R1M as the official Yamaha UK road racing team and despite some set-backs they gave the machine its first ever road race victory, set the fastest ever Yamaha lap at the TT and lifted the Cock O’ The North and Gold Cup titles, whilst also notching up numerous supersport victories.

Team Principal – Tim Martin

“Dean has been instrumental in getting the new R1M to where it is now and has been a pleasure to work with over the past two years. He is a talented young rider and needs to follow his own aspirations, I wish him all the best and would have no hesitation in working with him again in the future. Hopefully we will be in a position to confirm our 2016 plans in the next week but our commitment to Yamaha UK and the YZF-R1M project remains intact, we made a lot of progress throughout 2015 and are looking forward to reaping the benefits with a successful 2016.”

Karl Radley – Motorsport Co-ordinator for Yamaha UK

“Taking a brand new bike road racing is always going to be a steep learning curve, but Dean kept pushing and delivered some fantastic results on the new R1M, for which Yamaha is very grateful. Dean’s commitment and work ethic has been rock solid throughout the season and whenever the chips were down, he has always bounced back and remained utterly professional. We understand and accept his decision and I would like to thank him both personally and on behalf of Yamaha UK and wish him the very best for the future.”