Brad Ray switches to BMW power for 2020 BSB

The move will see him partner Taylor McKenzie in the TAS Racing BMW outfit

glenn irwin

BRAD RAY has signed a deal to join TAS Racing for the 2020 BSB season. He’ll be joined aboard the 2019 BMW S1000 RR by Taylor McKenzie, who returns to the team after four years away.

Ray’s move comes after a three-year stint with Buildbase Suzuki riding the GSX-R1000R, where success has been sporadic, finishing 3rd, 11th and 6th in the last three championships respectively.

The TAS Racing team on the other hand have been on a steady climb of form, nearly securing a place in the Showdown this season with Christian Iddon eventually claiming the Riders Cup at the Brands Hatch season finale.

Ray said: “I’m very excited to join TAS Racing next season on the new BMW. I have to say a big thank you to Hector and Philip Neil for giving me this opportunity and I’m very excited to start a new chapter in my career.

“The bike has shown very good potential in the first year of development so I’m excited to start 2020 with some more upgrades to the bike. It will be good for me to ride a different manufacturer of bike as I’ve been on Suzuki for the past three years, so it will be all new for me.”

Mackenzie said: “Returning to the TAS Racing team at the end of the season felt like coming home after four years away. I had so much fun during the last two rounds of 2019 with them and I’m really looking forward to carrying on where we left off next season on the S1000 RR. BSB will be as competitive as ever and I’m really looking forward to the challenge.

“I’ve worked with the TAS boys before and fully enjoyed it, but to get the opportunity to ride with them for a full season in 2020, with the support of BMW Motorrad, in the official Superbike team, is something I can’t wait to get my teeth into.”