MIST Suzuki - Inaugural WSB Season Review

European SuperStock 600 Championship

MIST Suzuki started it's first year at World SuperBikes competing in
the European SuperStock 600 Championship. With two talented young
riders it was always going to be a struggle to compete against
factory supported teams from Xerox Ducati, Alstare Corona Suzuki and
PSG-1 Kawasaki plus a further half dozen or so entries from existing
SuperSport of larger SuperStock 1000 teams.

Having won the MRO MiniTwins Championship in 2005 Matt Bond had only
ridden a 72 hp Suzuki SV650 before the first test at Valencia a week
before the first round. Chris had started 2005 on a MiniTwin but had
achieved several wild card entries at the tail end of the year in the
European SuperStock 600 Championship.

Both would be learning new circuits and new bikes plus they would be
racing in an incredibly 38 strong field, plus local wild cards,
featuring national SuperStock champions, riders who had been racing
600cc machines for several years and many who had competed in the
series the previous year. Even the home advantage was lost at
Silverstone as neither rider had raced on that circuit configuration.

From scoring points at the first round through several rounds with
both riders scoring points Matt Bond finished the season in 17th
place (with 21 points) and Chris Northover finished in 30th place
(with 9 points). If you exclude the riders that competed in the class
during 2005 Matt finished 5th amongst the newcomers who were all
vastly more experienced and was top privateer Suzuki on several
occasions.

Valencia, Spain
Matt Bond - 14th
Chris Northover - DNF - Clutch expired on first lap whilst in 27th place

Monza, Italy
Matt Bond - 17th - Running in 14th until brake problems on
penultimate lap
Chris Northover - 22nd

Silverstone, UK
Matt Bond - 14th
Chris Northover - 15th

Misano, San Marino
Matt Bond - 33rd - Run off track by competitor on first lap whilst in
top 20
Chris Northover - 28th

Brno, Czech Republic
Matt Bond - 27th - Running with 13th place finisher before jump start
penalty
Chris Northover - 19th

Brands Hatch, UK
Matt Bond - 7th
Chris Northover - 13th

Assen, Netherlands
Matt Bond - 24th - Forced off track at first turn due to a crash
whilst in top 10
Chris Northover - DNF - Run off track by competitor whilst in 20th
position

Lausitzring, Germany
Matt Bond - 18th - Slipper clutch problems led to delays whilst in
16th place
Chris Northover - 21st

Imola, Italy
Matt Bond - 14th
Chris Northover - 22nd

Magny Cours, France
Matt Bond - 10th
Chris Northover - 11th

As a team we feel we have acquitted ourselves well and have learnt a
great deal about what we need to do to improve for 2007. The team
intends to run Matt Bond and another rider in the European SuperStock
1000 Championship next year and are in negotiations with at least one
rider to race in the European SuperStock 600 class also.

Mike Edwards
Team Manager - MIST Suzuki
www.mistsuzuki.com

Would like to thank main sponsors www.givemethekeys.com and Steve
Jordan Motorcycles and ongoing support from B & C Express, Dyna Pro,
Pipercross, RaceDays.net, S&B Commercials and Silkolene.

Both GSXR600K6 machines are now for sale. Specification includes
Ohlins suspension front and rear, Arrow full race exhaust system, GPR
steering dampers, Harris clip ons, Promach rear sets and Yoshimura
kit base gasket.