Shaun Muir Racing (SMR) are ready to challenge for a second MCE Insurance British Superbike Championship title after announcing their 2013 line up of James Ellison and double Australian Superbike champion Josh Waters onboard the newly-unveiled Milwaukee Yamahas.
Ellison returns to the team after competing in the 2012 MotoGP World Championship and is a proven title contender; he finished runner-up in 2009 and was in contention for the title in 2010 before a crash left him sidelined with a broken femur.
Waters is set to make his debut in the British Championship after securing his second Australian title this season. The 25-year-old first experienced the series with a visit to the Silverstone round of the Championship this year as a spectator and is now determined to secure a Showdown position in his maiden season.
The team also revealed their new livery to race fans after announcing a new title partnership with Milwaukee Tool Corporation. Milwaukee is an industry-leading manufacturer and marketer of heavy-duty, portable electric power tools and accessories.
James Ellison
“I am really happy to be part of this team and the championship again as I feel that I still have unfinished business. I have seen how the championship has unfolded this year and I am really looking forward to coming back. The level of competition is definitely very high and you could see that from last season, but I know this is a strong team who are hugely capable and share the same goals. I am now looking forward to testing the Milwaukee Yamaha as the technical rules have changed since I last raced in BSB, which should suit me better as I prefer riding without traction control! I know I achieved a lot this year and now I am returning focused and confident about 2013. In 2009 I was second in the championship and I then joined SMR and we would have been fighting for the title if it hadn’t been for injury so I know that together we have the ability to put the Milwaukee Yamaha at the front; I am certainly not coming back to just make up the numbers!”
Josh Waters
“I am really happy and I still can’t believe I have been given this opportunity. I visited the Silverstone round this year and the championship was a big surprise to me as it is much bigger than I was expecting. I won my second Superbike title in Australia this year and I feel like that I have accomplished that goal and now I am ready for a new challenge. I am a realist and know that I am going to have to work hard at it this season but this is a huge step in the right direction for me, especially to work with a championship-winning team. I am hoping that the Showdown format will work in my favour as it gives me a chance to learn some of the tracks and I want to be in the top six. I can’t wait to get started and hopefully we can do enough to be there when it counts. I want to be successful in the championship and I am dedicated to succeeding with the Milwaukee Yamaha team.”
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