Re-writing history the Evotech way
As we kick-start 2025, we’re already starting to think about the upcoming racing season and excitement is beginning to build here at Evotech HQ as to what it may hold.
A great storyteller couldn’t have written the script for 2024, which turned out to be the best season ever for our supported teams and riders.
Blowing our own trumpets isn’t our thing, but it would be wrong to walk away from the 2024 season without acknowledging the incredible success our squads celebrated on the short circuit and international road racing scenes.
When the Bennetts British Superbike Championship roared into action at Navarra, Spain, the event was dominated by OMG GRILLA Yamaha’s Ryan Vickers, who took both wins and the championship lead.
As the championship arrived in Britain for Round Two at Oulton Park over the May Bank Holiday weekend, it was another of our supported teams, Hager PBM Ducati, which took control, as rider Glenn Irwin powered to all three wins at his team’s home track.
Irwin was on a roll and up next was the first international road race of the year, the North West 200. At an event the Northern Irishman – who has since retired from the roads – had made his own in recent years, he powered his new-look team to another hat-trick of all three Superbike race wins.
For us, it was also a very successful event. Along with Irwin’s three wins, Milwaukee BMW’s Davey Todd scored three seconds in the Superbike races and won both Superstock scraps.
Dean Harrison, now part of the Honda Racing UK family, made it a podium lockout for our teams by finishing third the final Superbike battle, backing up a second place in the first Superstock race.
A week later it was back to the short circuits and the first of two visits to Donington Park for the BSB circus and again, our teams excelled.
Kyle Ryde, on the second OMG GRILLA Yamaha took the first win, Irwin made it victory number four of the year in Race Two while Jason O’Halloran took glory in the final race of the weekend for Completely Motorcycles Kawasaki, another of our supported teams.
Next it was off to the TT, where the wins continued. Peter Hickman took victory in the RST Superbike TT aboard his Monster Energy BMW by FHO Racing machine, followed by Todd as Harrison rounded out the first big bike podium of the fortnight. Todd stormed to the win the RL360 Superstock TT ahead of Hickman before ending the event on a high with his first Senior TT win. Josh Brookes took an unexpected runner-up spot on the second FHO bike as Harrison brought his Honda home third.
As the summer wore on, the wins kept on coming for our teams and riders and it was soon clear one of our machines would eventually take BSB championship glory – the only question was which?
It turned out to be Yamaha and OMG Racing’s year, as Ryde managed to hold off last year’s champ Tommy Bridewell to take the title by just one point. Bridewell and the Honda Racing UK squad ended the year second with Irwin and Hager PBM Ducati third.
OMG also clinched the Ceratizit Teams Trophy ahead of Honda and PBM.
Honda Racing UK won both the Quattro Group British Supersport rider and team’s championships, as Jack Kennedy powered to a landmark fifth title – and has confirmed he will remain with the squad next year as he pushes for his sixth crown.
More silverware followed in the Pirelli National Superstock series, as Todd eventually took his second title in the final round. A month later he won at Macau to make it the perfect year.
So, how do we improve on a season as strong that? All last year’s big hitters will return this year, and all will be sticking with the same teams except Todd, who remains with BMW power but has switched to Faye Ho’s FHO outfit and swaps Superstock for BSB.
We also expect to be welcoming a host of new teams and riders into the Evotech Performance family, who will all be chasing success.
Can our supported teams and riders continue to ride high? Can Irwin or Bridewell topple the might of the OMG squad, which is bringing out the big guns with the return of former champ Brad Ray?
And can Todd continue his road racing success? Now team-mate to Hickman, you’ve got to imagine the TT wins will be heading FHO’s way, but we’re sure Honda Racing will be keen to steal back the silverware this year.
Kennedy looks to be a shoo-in for his sixth title and whatever does happen over the course of the next 10 months, we’re buckled in and ready for the ride. Here’s to a strong 2025!