BLDS Couriers/Close Print’s Craig Fitzpatrick joins Jentin Racing for the last four rounds of the MCE British Superbike Championship of 2009 giving him a long awaited opportunity replacing the expected rider of Chris Burns.
Even though the 2008 British Supersport Cup Champion currently sits tenth in the overall Supersport standings it has been a testing year with mechanical problems, funding and availability of his team members.  It hasn’t been a smooth year for the Jentin team either, after having to miss a few rounds.
Fitzpatrick said: “This couldn’t have come at a better time, I will still have my personal sponsors, but it takes the pressure off them a bit. It’s going to be a shock as I normally do everything, pack the truck, drive, set up, and look after the bikes as well as race. I’ve always done that from day one because I never had the money but Jentin have a team in place.  Again good timing because each of my team now can’t get Thursdays and Fridays off due to their work.
“I’ve known Jentin for a good few years, whenever we didn’t have a garage ourselves in the Supersport we would work out of Jentin’s, no other team let’s you do that.  We know we are always welcome there and when my girlfiend is away they help me with my pitboard.  They’ve always asked would I like a go on the Superbike of course I said yes, but it has never come about until now.”
Fitzpatrick rode in the Superstock 1000 category before joining the Supersport grid and after successfully learning to ride the 600cc he now has to revert back and reintroduce himself to the difference in power and its delivery.  Fitzpatrick had his first taster of the Yamaha R1 on a track day at Oulton Park with the team.
Even though he only managed 14 laps due to the session being rained off this was a successful reminder of how to handle the beast and using Simon Andrews data from last year he has been given great food for thought in preparation for the Bank Holiday weekend.
When asked if he is ready for the change he said: “I’ve always thought I was ready it’s just never been available to me.  I’ve been asked to ride a Superbike many times, but I didn’t feel it was right.  I didn’t see the point in taking a ride on a Superbike that I could beat on my 600cc.  Jentin are well established, they work like I do, they are really clean and I already have a relationship with them.”
“We have no expectations for the weekend we are going to take it steady there is no point damaging the bike or myself.  Cadwell is one of the most physical tracks and not a good one to start off really with trying out a Superbike.  With a Superbike and especially at a track like Cadwell you need upper body strength which I don’t have at the moment because of being on a 600cc, but I am working really hard at it.  Over the next four rounds we are riding really with the view of next year.”