Tristan Palmer joins our Superstock team

Rapido Sport Racing Ducati has today signed Tristan Palmer to ride the Ducati Panigale R in the National Superstock 1000 Championship. Tristan will ride the bike for the remaining rounds of the 2013 season, and the team are preparing a second bike to be ready when Lee Johnston, who was injured in an accident at the Thruxton round of the British Superbike Championship, is fit to race again.

Palmer has a lot of experience riding in the ultra-competitive Superstock class, having taken fourth place in the 2011 championship before moving up to British Superbikes in 2012. The deal to ride a Ducati was finalised at the European round of the World Superbike Championship at Donington Park, and the team has two test days booked before the next Superstock round at Knockhill.

Tristan Palmer: “I’m really excited about it – I've never raced on a Ducati before and am looking forward to learning a new machine. It’s a lovely looking bike and it’s done really well in Superstock championships elsewhere, so I can’t wait to get out there and start pushing. We’ve got a couple of days testing lined up before Knockhill so I can get a good feel for the bike. The Rapido Sport Racing team are spot on – they know what they’re doing with the set-up on the bike.

“It’s good to be here at Donington and see Matteo (Baiocco – BSB rider for Rapido Sport Racing Ducati) ride the bike. It’s clearly competitive so the signs are good. I started the year in the Superstock championship but it didn’t exactly go to plan. I've had lots of success in this class before, and with a stronger team behind me I’m sure we’ll be back at the front where we should be. The aim is to get the Ducati onto the podium.”

Rapido Sport Racing team principal Steve Moore: “Tristan was an obvious choice for the team. He’s got a proven track record in this class and became available just at the right time for us. We’re exited to be working with another great rider who will be able to continue the development of the Panigale and we’re sure he’ll be challenging at the front end very quickly. Once Lee is back and fighting fit it’ll be even better. Having two bikes on the grid will be good for the team, and we’re hoping both riders will be able to push each other along and get in amongst the established front-runners.”