Up and coming young talent Jon Kirkham is looking for a strong showing with the Sendo Kawasaki squad at the 2005 British Superbike Championship season opener at Brands Hatch over Easter.
Last years Superbike Cup runner-up has enjoyed a steady rise through the
ranks having ridden for the Appleyard / TDB Recruitment team in 2003 before
going it alone on a Suzuki GSX R last year securing four wins and 17 podiums in the privateer class. One of the highlights for the young Derby rider was an impressive display on the John Reynolds Rizla Suzuki GSX R at the end of season Castle Combe invitational.
This year sees the 20 year old step up to a front line ride with Sendo
Kawasaki alongside Steve Plater. The team have kept Jon busy in the build up to the season with a trip to the French Riviera to promote title sponsor
Sendo, testing in Spain and an appearance at the British Superbike
Championship launch.
The team launch coincided with a major mobile phone show held at the exotic location of Cannes in the South of France during February at which Sendo had a major presence. Jon said it was an enjoyable experience.
"We were asked to head out to Cannes by Sendo to promote their company and the team at a mobile phone show. It was a unique experience and a really cool way to spend a week, I thoroughly enjoyed it. "
Jon and the Sendo squad have just returned from testing in Spain, running in the Kawasaki ZX10's. It was his first extended session back in the saddle which enabled him to blow the cobwebs out of the system.
"It was a short test of around 40 laps, but we achieved what we wanted. The priority was to blow the cobwebs off and get back into the groove of things. My immediate impressions of the Kawasaki were very good. It's a lot smaller and more nimble than the Suzuki. "
With his attention now firmly fixed on Brands Hatch Jon said that it was
going to be a tough campaign.
"No question about it this season is going to be the toughest ever. The
depth of this year's field means every position is going to be hard fought
over. I'm not phased by it at all though, we've got a great team and a
strong bike. I'm really looking forward to getting the season underway."
