1999 Australian Superbike Champion Steve
Martin will be riding the new Ducati 748R this year in the Ducati Dealer Team's assault on
the 2000 Australian Supersport Championship, and will debut the exciting new Ducati 748R
at the first of the seven round championship this weekend.
The Ducati Dealer previously competed in the Australian Supersport Championship in 1998,
with team rider Craig Connell finishing a very creditable third overall aboard the Ducati
748SPS, which the new 748R replaces.
"It was certainly very satisfying to win the 1999 Australian Superbike
Championship," said Warren Lee, General Manager for NF Importers Pty Ltd (The
Australian distributors for Ducati). "Our riders Steve (Martin) and Craig
(Connell) and team, did a fantastic job with so many wins, podium positions and new lap
records. Everything came together and we kicked-butt.Our victory added to Ducati's
overall world Superbike scoop with Carl Fogarty taking his fourth (and Ducati's eighth)
World Superbike Championship and Australian Troy Bayliss taking his first British
Superbike Championship title".
"Our slight change of direction in 2000 has been the result of changes to the
Superbike Championship format during the off-season therefore we have decided to focus our
efforts and resources on the Australian Supersport Championship with Steve (Martin) and go
for back to back Australian Superbike and Supersport titles," Mr Lee added.
"I have to thank our sponsors that helped us to realise our objective in winning
the 1999 title and as we go forward into 2000 we look forward to their support and a
mutually beneficial relationship with our team."
Steve Martin has ridden in the Supersport class in only one previous occasion, in the
support class at the Australian Grand Prix at Phillip Island in 1998. He dominated the
weekend taking out both Supersport race wins after earlier claiming pole position for his
first ever-Supersport race.
"I have spent most of my racing career riding Superbikes and winning the
Australian title last year was the pinnacle of my career so far," Martin said.
"But with that I am now focussed on adding the Supersport title to the Superbike
crown. The new Ducati 748R looks to have all of the ingredients of being very competitive
in the class this year and I'm sure that with the
Ducati Dealer Team's experience, we should be in a position to mount a serious challenge
on the championship". |