G&S Racing Kawasaki have finalised their 2019 rider line-up with the addition of young talent TJ Toms.
On board new 2019 Kawasaki ZX6 machinery, he will contest the Pirelli National Superstock 600 championship for the Wyberton-based team, alongside fellow new signing Kevin Keyes.
The 17-year-old rider, who hails from Puriton near Bridgewater and works as an apprentice carpenter, is delighted to join the team.
He said: “I am really happy to join G&S Racing Kawasaki and believe we have the package to win the championship this year.
“I improved with every race last year, culminating with a podium finish at Brands Hatch for a hard fought third place – so I’m sure I have the potential to be winning races in 2019.
“I have to thank Mark, Tom and Kay at G&S and my personal sponsors for giving me this great opportunity and I am looking forward to getting my season underway.”
Team manager Mark Fisher added: “I am very pleased to welcome TJ to the team. With TJ and Kevin Keyes both working together in the Pirelli Superstock 600 championship this year we have a very strong team and will be making a serious challenge for the title.
“Both will be riding the new Kawasaki ZX6 while Milo Ward will campaign the Superstock 1000 championship.”Meanwhile, Ward has been out in Spain testing for a few days and although his new steed is not yet ready he had the use of Tom Fisher’s ZX10 in Andalusia to get a feel for the big bike.
He said: “I certainly feel like I have learnt lots about the Kawasaki ZX10RR, starting to adapt my style to make it work on the bigger bike. I’ll be honest, it hasn’t really felt like a big step, straight away I felt comfortable on the bike and it just worked with me.
“The speed certainly blew me away, but the biggest change was the wheelies! I could not keep the front wheel on the floor no matter how hard I tried.
“However, I have quickly learnt that the rear brake is going to have to be my best friend on one of these if I want to move forward, so that’s been a quick lesson.”
The first round of the season is set for Silverstone over the Easter weekend of April 19-22.