Jack Kennedy returns to BSB for 2020, joins Dan Linfoot at TAG Yamaha

Double British Supersport Champion Jack Kennedy will step back up to the British Superbike Championship class in 2020 after being confirmed alongside Dan Linfoot in the Santander Salt TAG Yamaha squad.

On the weekend Kennedy officially sealed the 2019 BSS title, marking back-to-back successes following his maiden championship success in 2018, the Irishman is confirmed to be making his first Superbike appearance since 2016 next year.

He will be paired with the experienced Linfoot, who heads into his second season with the Santander Salt TAG Yamaha outfit after a podium-winning campaign in 2019.

Set to mark his first BSB starts since 2016 when he competed with Team WD-40 on a Kawasaki ZX0-10R, Kennedy is excited about the prospect of getting to grips with the all-new 2020 Yamaha R1.

“I’m over the moon, I had a job to do at Donington Park and that is now done so now I can focus on 2020 after getting myself a good ride in BSB with Santander Salt TAG Racing,” he said. “I’m really excited, I’m happy to be staying with Yamaha as well, they are a good manufacturer to ride for and the R1 is a bike I feel I can really do well on.
 
“I feel like I have unfinished business in the Superbike class and with this opportunity I can prove myself again on a big bike. It really fits into place, the team speaks for itself for what they have done in the past, they have been around a long time also, which is good and I really feel I can put myself up the sharp end on a competitive bike that the team turn out.
 
“The new R1 has a lot of upgrades and updates to it so I’m sure it will be a stronger package, I’m excited to see what it is like, and also I’m excited to hear what Dan thinks because he will have ridden the old and new models. 
 
“My goal is the Showdown of course, I haven’t felt as good as I ever have done in the last two years and I know I can put consistent results together, obviously it needs to be in the top five or six but I feel we can get there when I get comfortable on the bike, there is no reason why we can’t be up there.”

Dan Linfoot stays on board for BSB 2020

Linfoot, meanwhile, will look to build on a difficult campaign that has left him down in 15th overall with one round remaining.

“I’m really happy to get a deal done with Rob, Tracy and Gary for next season. Looking back we have experienced some technical issues this year and with a view of them coming right it only makes sense to start 2020 with those issues out of the way and having a proper go at the Championship onboard the new R1.

“I don’t need to waste any time in getting to know the team, we can hit the ground running in 2020, and we will have a lot more testing time throughout the winter which is going to help massively.

“I never really join any team with the idea of doing one year and then going elsewhere, it’s like a girlfriend if you like, I don’t go into anything with a short-term plan. It was always in my mind to stay with the team to grow and I’ve made it no secret that I love the team, they allow me to go and do other things outside of racing so from that point of view I’m ready for to go in 2020 and have a real go.”