Haga signed by Swan Yamaha

Nori Haga back on Yamahas for his BSB campaign

Posted: 10 February 2012
by Visordown News

IN a shock turn of events Noriyuki Haga has been signed by Swan Yamaha for the 2012 British Superbike championship.

Haga had originally been rumoured to join the British series on a Ducati 1199 Panigale, but our source close to the deal has revealed that the Japanese star will return to Yamaha machinery for his move to the BSB championship.

Where this leaves Anthony West is unknown, as it appears that Haga's team have scooped the Yamaha deal from underneath the Australian.

In regards to Ian Hutchinson, Haga's appointment to the Swan Yamaha team is reminiscent to when Gregorio Lavilla took James Haydon's place at Airwaves Ducati in 2005. However, Hutchinson will remain with Swan Yamaha for the road racing season.

The Japanese rider has a long standing relationship with Yamaha, having taken success in the Japanese superbike championship before his debut on the World Superbike stage in 1998.

Click here for the 2012 British Superbikes calendar

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Discuss this story

Pagik

Bloody hell!!! Did NOT see that coming!! I bet Westy is not a happy teddy...

Posted: 10/02/2012 at 15:25

mobus

Is this for definate? :O

Posted: 10/02/2012 at 17:04

Pagik

It would appear so mate...kinda makes sense...still gutted for Westy though, poor bloke can't get a brake at all. Bloody hope someone chucks him on something by April...

Posted: 10/02/2012 at 18:44

Koiboy

I'm actually really pleased that BSB has attracted Haga, it raises the profile of the BSB series and seeing his past races, he'll be really attacking and very entertaining.....

However, it would be great to see Westy get a break and secure a ride - he's too good to pack in and get a normal day job. Best of luck fella

Posted: 10/02/2012 at 20:33

User_211237

For PR purposes, Haga is great for BSB but it's a domestic series and I would rather see up and coming youngsters progressing through the ranks than MotoGP/SBK refugees tumbling down the ranks just to maintain a huge income. As for Ant West, quite why anyone thinks he deserves a break is beyond me. Other than as a wet weather specialist he has done nothing in the senior ranks and must have really pi**ed off some team managers as he can barely get a regular ride.

Posted: 11/02/2012 at 21:56

mobus

@user_211237

Theres not enough up and comming talent for you in bsb?

kirkham
gowloand
westmoreland
lowes
marino
hillier
linfoot
hickman

Not to mention the guys who have come out of bsb onto the world stage in the last 4 or 5 years...

rea
camier
crutchlow
haslam
sykes
hill
laverty
lowes

All that time there has been riders dropping down to the domestic level from world championships and doing well(lavilla, kiyo, hopkins, shakey) and it doesn't seem to have had a negative effect unless im wrong.

Posted: 12/02/2012 at 00:24

Ian Poole

Look forward to seeing him and all the BSB riders in just under 3 weeks at Santa Anna race circuit, Cartagena, Spain. track days 2nd, 3rd march

Posted: 12/02/2012 at 10:59

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