Lee hopes to be challenging in 2010

Editorial Department • Published 4 Feb 2010 14:00 0 Comments

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Lee Johnston on the Kawasaki bike he will be racing on in the forthcoming season.

The new motor cycle racing season is still a couple of months away and for many it is always a difficult time sorting out machinery for the year. No such problem for Lee Johnston. This year the Fermanagh flyer will be running in Kawasaki green, as a member of the factory supported Gearlink Kawasaki team.

Lee will again be concentrating his efforts on the British 600 Supersport Championship, the ultra competitive series which is really the second tier of racing in Britain after the Superbike Championship.

This will be Lee's fourth season of racing in England and now after serving his apprenticeship, it will surely be a season where he should realise his potential.

2007 saw Lee make his debut on a 100 Suzuki in the Superstock Championship, a real baptism of fire for the youngster to basically learn the circuits and get used to the whole championship scene. The following year saw his best year - results wise - to date when at the first attempt he won the Junior Superstock Championship on his R6 Yamaha. Last year he stepped up to the Supersport Championship again on a Yahama, for the Raceways team. Whilst the results may have suggested he didn't have as good a year as 2008, his lap and race times showed that he was riding faster than ever, regularly matching the top riders in the series. A combination of mechanical breakdowns and a couple of unfortunate accidents spoiled what should have been a solid top six finish to the season, but he showed sufficient talent and maturity as a rider to attract the attention of a number of teams and not forgetting his superb showing at Bishopscourt in October when on a one off ride for the Relentless TAS Suzuki team Lee scored a win and a second place.

So for this year Lee will be Kawasaki powered. He tested his new bike at Brand's Hatch at the weekend and met up with his new team-mate Ben Wilson. Lee was full of confidence and optimism after his first outing.

"It's a really good bike to ride. Obviously I have been on Yamaha's for the last couple of years, but this bike won a number of races last year so we know it's competitive. It's my intention to be fighting for the championship from the first race and we'll see how it goes."

Lee has also scored a great sponsorship deal with Arai helmets and Daytona boots and with the help of his loyal sponsors is all set for the coming season. His tests with the team in Spain in February and has a fundraising night in March before the season kicks off in earnest in April. Roll on the Spring!

This article appeared in Impartial Reporter 04 Feb 10

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