AFTER five years, Jack Valentine has announced that this will be his last season with Crescent Suzuki.
He will leave the team at the end of the current season - the two parties appear to be on good terms. Valentine said: 'I have enjoyed my five years with the Crescent Suzuki Superbike team and it has been great to work with all the people involved throughout that time and I am obviously sad to be leaving'
Valentine arrived in 2007 - at the time the team was still racing in BSB. He took a prominent role in the development of young riders such as Tom Sykes, Sylvain Guintoli and Tommy Hill - who narrowly missed out on the title in 2010 under Valentine's stewardship. He was also instrumental in bringing former MotoGP ace John Hopkins to the Crescent Suzuki BSB set-up.
This season, Crescent Suzuki's first in World Superbikes, Valentine has developed them into a highly competitive team. Team principle Paul Denning (who will take over the day to day running of the team) said: 'Jack has always retained a positive and professional attitude, which has not only helped the team in some difficult moments, but enhanced the spirit in some exciting times. I wish him well and hope our paths cross again. He'll always be a friend of the team and Crescent Suzuki.'
Valentine was seen last weekend in the Silverstone BSB paddock...could he have a new job lined up?