Mar-Train Yamaha Racing and Jack Kennedy have renewed their record-breaking partnership for the 2023 season as the reigning Quattro Group British Supersport Champions progress into the Bennetts British Superbike Championship.

The Northern Ireland based team will receive technical support from Yamaha Motor UK via GYTR Pro Shop Raceways Motorcycles (McAMS Yamaha) as they make the step up to the premier class for the first time after clinching their second British Supersport title at Snetterton. The Mar-Train Yamaha Racing team first won the British Supersport title in 2013 with Stuart Easton.

Kennedy said: “I am really excited to be back in the Superbike Championship and extremely grateful to Mar-Train Yamaha Racing for giving me this opportunity with support from Yamaha Motor UK.

“I have really gelled with the Mar-Train Yamaha Racing team this season. I love the atmosphere and I know there’s no corners cut when it comes to Tim and Sonya, so I know I’m going to get the best package possible to compete towards the front.

“To have support from Yamaha Motor UK and Raceways/McAMS Yamaha is amazing as we know that we’re not making the jump to the premier class alone and that we will have the best possible support when it comes to putting the right package together and getting the bike right for race weekends.

“Having had two previous attempts at establishing myself in the top division, I am determined to make the most of this opportunity on championship-winning machinery and find my feet in the Superbike class. I feel like this is my time to shine in the British Superbike Championship.

“I can’t wait to get going and really looking forward to the winter so I can get stuck into my training to be the best I can be both physically and mentally in 2023.”

Tim Martin, Team owner of Mar-Train Yamaha Racing, said: “Mar-Train Yamaha Racing doesn’t rest on its laurels and now that we secured the 2022 Quattro British Supersport Championship, we have already turned our attention to next season.

“We’re delighted to announce that Mar-Train Yamaha Racing will be making the step up to the British Superbike Championship in 2023 with Jack Kennedy piloting a Yamaha R1 that will be expertly prepared by long-term crew chief Andy Jamison with parts support from Yamaha Motor UK.

“Mar-Train Yamaha Racing has a longstanding relationship with Yamaha, and we’re delighted the championship-winning manufacturer is throwing their weight behind our Superbike effort. Yamaha Motor UK will provide factory parts and upgrades throughout the season with Raceways Motorcycles/McAMS Yamaha, who we have worked with since 2012, offering invaluable technical support in terms of bike setup at each race weekend.

“We had been in talks with Yamaha Motor UK and McAMS Yamaha for several months and once we tested the R1 Superbike a few weeks ago with Jack, we knew this was the right move for us as a team.

“We are under no illusion that this is a huge step up for Mar-Train Yamaha Racing and Jack, but one that we feel we are ready to take. Jack has nothing left to prove in the Supersport series and deserves a crack at establishing himself in the top division with front-running Superbike machinery and that’s what we want to collectively deliver next season. We are excited and ready for the challenge!”

Matt Taylerson, Divisional Manager, Marketing at Yamaha Motor UK, said: “We are really excited to see Jack and the Mar-Train team step up to the Superbike class after dominating the Supersport championship this year. Jack has won the Supersport title three times for Yamaha now and this year became the most successful British Supersport rider in history, so stepping up to Superbike is the natural move.

“The team and Jack are proven in the Supersport class and the R1 is proven in Superbike – this year we’ve won 18 races already and all four Yamaha riders are in the Showdown. Our official team, McAMS Yamaha, will work closely with Mar-Train on the technical side to ensure that they too can fight towards the front. We can’t wait to see what Jack can achieve on the Mar-Train Yamaha R1.”