CRESCENT has appointed renowned race guru Jack Valentine as Team Manager for Suzuki's official British Superbike squad for the 2008 race season.
Valentine, 54, from Oldham in Lancashire, has a long history in motorcycle racing, starting out with club racing on a Suzuki GS1000 in 1978. He has progressed through the racing world taking British Championship and TT victories on the way as an engineering consultant and within team management.
"In many ways it is my career coming full circle," smiled Jack. "I started out racing Suzuki motorcycles and now I am going to be the Team Manager for the Crescent Factory Superbike team - Rizla Suzuki.
"I am really happy to have this opportunity to manage the team and have the clear target to take it back to its winning ways. I think Simon Buckmaster has done a Stirling job taking the team to the front of the BSB racing and I aim to build on that.
"I can't comment on riders, technical developments or anything at the moment as I haven't got my feet under the table yet, but I am excited and can't wait to get going."
Jack will be moving to Wimborne, close to the team's HQ in Verwood, Dorset, when he takes up the post on November 1st.
He said: "I will be moving my home and living and breathing the team in 2008. This is a fantastic opportunity with a great team of guys and a bike that will be difficult to beat. The Rizla Suzuki Superbike has benefited from a year's development and data which combined with a strong winter test programme means we should be challenging from the off in 2008."
Jack takes over from current Rizla Suzuki Team Manager Simon Buckmaster who is vacating the job at the end of the racing season.
