Warwick Nowland joins World Superbike ranks for 2004

It was three years ago that I sat down to write the great news that I had signed with a Factory supported Ducati team to race in the Superbike World Championship.

That didn’t work out and I continued with Endurance, which has lifted me to my next challenge. I am thrilled to have signed a 2-year deal with my current team, Zongshen, to race in the 2004 & 2005 Superbike World Championship.

It is something I have been trying to do for many years. I have always believed I could win that Championship and sitting on the sidelines watching other Australians do it has only made me more determined. Speaking of determination, after waiting and waiting to get into SBK, over the past few years I have become so hungry, almost angry. I know there is a lot of work to be done especially with the amount of pressure I put on myself but I am just plain hungry. I am going to stir things up. I have a job to do for my team but also for myself. I want to do the same thing I did with the Endurance Championship.

As I mentioned, there is a lot of work to be done but we are all looking forward to that. One of the big advantages we will have is our bikes. I can’t say where the bikes are being built at the moment but they will be Suzuki GSX R1000’s. We have a very good understanding of this bike and with the continued support of the team’s sponsors, the bikes should be very competitive.

There have been opportunities for me to enter SBK in the past but everyone is aware that it’s a package that makes success. I really feel we are coming into the series with a strong team. And, it is one we will build upon for 2005. My Team Manager, Michel Marqueton, has been working very hard to put together the right package.

My team mate will be Pier-Giorgio Bontempi. This can only be an advantage! He is very experienced and we get on very well. I can see a lot of laughs next year!

Of course there is the cloud over SBK at the moment because of the rules. I can only say that I will do my best to make it close and colourful racing like it was a few years ago. I believe the people at FG Sport know what they are doing so I will leave that part to them.

I am disappointed not to continue my long and successful relationship with Dunlop. I don’t have an opinion on this rule, I am just thinking about how to use the Pirelli’s. We must use what we have and not worry about what we don’t have. I think it will make the racing closer.

Pier-Giorgio and myself will be testing next month at Valencia and then I will go to Australia to start training on my new Suzuki RM-Z250. Unfortunately, we will miss the official SBK test at Phillip Island in January. We are planning several other tests in Europe.

As I said, I am thrilled and I plan to make everyone proud, and beat those Ducati’s!!!