By Newcastle Upon Tyne’s Chris Burns has been unveiled as Wilson Craig Racing’s latest team member for the 2021 roads season.
An ex Moto GP racer competing alongside icons such as Valentino Rossi, Max Biaggi, Loris Capirossi, Troy Bayliss, Colin Edwards, Burns diverse, impressive racing CV also includes European Superstock 1000, IDM Superbike Championship, British Superbike Championship experience.
He’s also been a team mate to none other than seven times Formula 1 World Champion Michael Schumacher.
No stranger to roads competition having competed previously at two of the Netherlands top roads courses, Hengelo and Oss, 2021 sees him achieve a long-held ambition by tackling for the first time the North West 200 and TT Races.
Photo by Moto Media
Speaking today about via Wilson Craig Racing’s official Facebook page, Burns who hasn’t raced competitively since 2012 stated:
“I’ve been interested in the roads since I raced at Oss and Hengelo in 2011 when I was in the Dutch Superbike series.
I loved them, after so many years racing on the big International tracks, I really took to these roads circuits and I knew then I wanted to tackle the Isle of Man TT.
I had to take a step back from racing in 2012 for various reasons but coming back to try my hand on the roads has always been my plan.”
He continued:
“To be given the opportunity to join a team as successful and well respected as Wilson Craig is genuinely a dream come true for me.
I am really excited about 2021. Darren and the team have been fantastic and we are all chasing the same goals. I’m looking forward to experiencing the North West 200 for the first time and in doing as much homework as I can at the moment learning the TT course.
I am physically fitter than I’ve ever been so I just can’t wait to get back out there and see what we can achieve.”
Wilson Craig Racing Team Principal Darren Gilpin added via Facebook:
“We are really looking forward to working with Chris, he has extensive experience on all levels of racing including Moto GP, British Superbike, German & Dutch Superbike Championships.
For 2021 we aim to compete with him at the International Road Races plus a selected few rounds on the Irish National circuits and Roads.
Obviously Covid 19 may still yet alter our plans for the season ahead, that being the case we are hopeful we can put extra budget in place to compete at selected British Supersport rounds.
Pure road racing is something that Chris has wanted to do for some time, and we will build him a Honda CBR600RR for the task in hand.
It is also very exciting to bring a World Championship level rider to the Irish race scene, although a different discipline to Moto GP Chris will be able to adapt quickly given his experience. We are all looking forward to the season ahead.”
Words by Stevie Rial, quotes via Wilson Craig Racing Facebook page
