All change for Alstare Suzuki

From worldsbk.com
with files from John Hopkins

The Suzuki Alstare rider line-up for the 2010 World Superbike season has changed completely, with Max Neukirchner out and Yukio Kagayama now heading back to the British Superbike Championship once again.

The new rider line-up will be Briton Leon Haslam and Frenchman Sylvain Guintoli.

Haslam has long been the target of team boss Francis Batta, but the inclusion of Guintoli was only recently fixed, after the surprise exit of Max Neukirchner, who has spent most of the 2009 season sidelined by injuries. He badly broke his leg in a crash at Monza in May, then later suffered serious back injuries while testing at Imola, leading to concerns about his recovery.

On Sept. 30 the contract between Neukirchner and Alstare should have been automatically extended for 2010. However, as a result of the issues regarding his recovery, the team decided to have a meeting with Neukirchner on the Sunday after the race in Imola. During this meeting, he was informed that his contract could not be extended while his physical condition remained in doubt.

Neukirchner was asked by the team to travel to its headquarters, with one of his surgeons, the week after Magny-Cours, in order to carry out some tests which would have clarified the true state of his health. Neukirchner did not show up as had been agreed.

"Alstare Suzuki have had a close collaboration with Max for three years and, during this time, we have encouraged and developed his promise while supporting him in the best possible way to enhance his career," the team said in a statement. "Max's failure to come and talk to us means that, regretfully, this collaboration has now come to an end. However, we would like to wish him a full and speedy recovery and good luck in the future."

Guintoli is an experienced rider on the GSX-R now, and on Pirelli tires, having competed in BSB racing last season.

Said Batta, "Sylvain already knows about the Suzuki GSX-R and Pirelli tires and his professionalism and motivation for this new challenge are positive factors for us to start working together straight away.

"We at Team Suzuki Alstare are also very happy to welcome a British rider. The Suzuki UK distributor has always given great support to Team Suzuki Alstare and all of us are delighted to have signed Leon Haslam for the 2010 World Superbike Championship.

"Leon has a good family set-up and they advise, support and help him very well. He has a real fighting spirit and is one of the best riders in the WSBK series, for sure. We are certain he will fit in perfectly with the Team Suzuki Alstare structure, as we both share the same desire to work hard and to win."