Chris Walker gears up for new MCE British Superbike Championship

MCE British Superbike rider Chris Walker has began preperations for the new season with a number of test days.
Chris Walker is gearing up for the new season. Pic by Paul HortonChris Walker is gearing up for the new season. Pic by Paul Horton
Chris Walker is gearing up for the new season. Pic by Paul Horton

Walker (43) switched teams over the winter break, joining the new Be Wiser Kawasaki team headed up by 2011 BSB champion Tommy Hill.

And Walker is aiming to make a top six ‘showdown’ place in 2015, after a successful 2014 season where he finished sixth overall.

Ahead of the 2015 MCE British Superbike Championship season opener at Donington Park in just over a week at Easter, Walker is fresh from testing in Spain.

Two weeks ago Ollerton-based Walker was in Cartagena Spain where the team had six days testing the new bikes and collecting essential data to aid their attack for a 2015 Championship.

Speaking after testing Walker, who is set to start his 13th season in the British Superbike series, said: “Its has been a really good test. We have carried on working on the front end feeling of the bike and turned the chassis inside out and, with some changes to the geometry, we have made a big improvement.

“It is really exciting and a fresh start for me and this year feels really special. The team has got a high profile with Tommy Hill behind it.

“The colour scheme of yellow and black is really great, and there are no other Kawasaki’s that colour either.”

Working with team-mate Danny Bucan will be a case of young v old and experience over youth, but Walker thinks this will work well and that the duo can help each other towards getting both bikes into the Showdown.

During the 2014 season Walker rode consistently with three podium finishes to complete his best season so far in British Superbikes.

Nicknamed “the Stalker” Chris started his career as a local motocross rider at the age of 13, moving to road racing in 1994.

By the end of that year and into 1996 he rose through the ranks with ease and had ridden in Motorbike Grand Prix and scored points.

He had a spell in the British Superbike Championship between 1997 and 2000.

Between 2001 and 2006 Chris went into the 500cc World Championship and World Superbikes with his best result, his maiden Superbike World Championship race win in 2006 at Assen, Netherlands.

He moved back to British Superbikes in 2007 where he is firmly established with a record of 21 wins and 11 pole positions.

Walker’s first outing of the season is Easter Weekend as he returns to Donington Park for the first round of the 2015 MCE British Superbike Championship season on 4th to 6th April.

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