MATS NILSSON is the latest name to join the Team Blackhorse Yamaha line-up for the 2009 season.
The 33-year-old Swede will ride for the team at the North-West 200, the Isle of Man TT and the Ulster Grand Prix, as well as taking his place on the grid at the two big meetings at Olivers Mount, Scarborough, the Cock O' the North in July and the Steve Henshaw International Gold Cup in September.
At his disposal will be the Team Blackhorse Yamaha 2009 R1 Superstock machine for the Superstock class and selective Superbike races whilst he will contest the Supersport races and the Junior TT on the team's R6 Supersport 600.
A trip to Frohburg is also pencilled in, as is the obligatory pre-season testing early in the new year.
Team Manager Ian Lougher:
"A key philosophy of Team Blackhorse Yamaha is to encourage and support up and coming riders, and Mats Nilsson fits the bill perfectly. Mats possesses the qualities that make a great team member, namely a willingness to learn and adapt to new ideas and challenges, combined with an enjoyment of racing which belies a fierce determination to succeed. Everyone at Team Blackhorse Yamaha will give him 100% support to achieve this success."
Mats Nilsson:
"It is no secret that my racing ambition is to win at the Isle of Man TT and to do that you need to be surrounded by a team that has the motivation, skill and desire to see you through to the top and for this reason I am delighted to be riding for Team Blackhorse Yamaha. With the Team Blackhorse Yamaha 2009 package, I am sure that my first TT results in 2008 will be very much improved and in Ian Lougher (8 times winner at the TT, 8 times winner at the NW200, 13 Ulster Grand Prix wins, over 114 wins at Scarborough and much, much more) Il be riding alongside the current most experienced road racer in the world, this can only serve to make 2009 a season to remember."
