Race ace's bid for added glory
RISING STAR... British Superbike rider Cal Crutchlow with Andy Farren of HB&O - and the champagne setting the style for next season!
A Midlands accountancy firm is aiming to inspire a local superbike star to even greater heights next season.
Cal Crutchlow, who lives in Wyken, finished his maiden season in the British Superbike Championship with a win at the Race of the Year at Mallory Parkand was ninth on the final leader board.
Leamington and Coventry accountant and business advisers HB&O has handed Cal a jeroboam of champagne to celebrate and want him to return the favour when he stands on the top of the podium for the first time next season.
HB&O Partner Andy Farren said: “Cal has made fantastic progress in a short space of time and with his move to HM Plant Honda next season he has a real shot at the title.
“To finish top 10 in his rookie season is a real achievement and we hope this time next year he will be buying the champagne when he brings the British Superbike Championship back to Coventry.
“Cal has used our services since he went professional and staff at HB&O follow his results closely and we were delighted when he won the British Supersport Championship in 2006.
“Now he has another chance for glory and hopefully he will also get a chance to fulfill his ambition and be Moto GP Champion.”
Crutchlow begins testing with his new team next February and is already in training to ensure he is fit enough to compete for the championship.
He said: “I’ve moved on to HM Plant Honda on a great deal with the team that was home to the first and second placed riders last season.
“They are the biggest manufacturers in the world and certainly know how to build a bike and I’ll be pushing to win the championship.
“It’s been a hard year but it came good at the end of the season. It was disappointing at Donnington as I didn’t finish either race.
“But Brands Hatch was my strongest performance of the year as I took fifth place in the opening race before coming third in the final race of the year.
“It was great to be standing on the podium and I hope I’ll be up there many more times next season.”