MX Diary: Shipton signs up
By Sean Lawless on 9th Nov 16
Crescent Yamaha has joined forces with Rob Hooper Racing and existing sponsor Geartec to support Jake Shipton as Yamaha UKs official MX1 challenger.
"This season has really allowed me to step up, mixing it with the fastest riders in the British championships and growing my confidence considerably,” said the 23-year-old. "I've seen Rob's dedication in the last few weeks and for sure he loves the sport just as much - or even more maybe - than me! For someone with his experience to notice my riding and efforts feels amazing!
"The guys at Crescent have helped me so much and without them last year I wouldn't have been racing at all. Crescent has pushed me to the next level and being involved with this project and riding the amazing YZ450F is really exciting.
"Next season my aim is to be consistently running in the top five in the British championship. I have a solid training programme that I'm sticking to and a strong, competitive training group including Alex Lowes and Tommy Searle that I both look up to and who want me to improve so I'll be training hard with them and putting the laps in with Rob at the track.
"I'm really excited about 2017 and this opportunity, I just can't stop thanking everyone and come March next year I think we'll be more than ready!”
Hooper, who's been running teams for almost 30 years, has high hopes for Shipton next season.
"Jake has impressed me so much through 2016,” he said. "I have watched his results improve week on week and his double win at round five of the MX Nationals and his fantastic Ken Hall victory were a just reward for the extraordinary dedication, commitment and fact he is prepared to go that extra mile to reach his goals.
"I am looking forward to working with a rider who I know is going to be giving 100 per cent to deliver top results in 2017.”
