Gearlink Kawasaki's Ben Wilson is looking forward to next Thursday as that will be the day the cast comes off his injured leg. The Lincolnshire man is still hobbling around on crutches after he broke his leg in a qualifying crash at Brands Hatch during the final Motorpoint British Supersport round a few weeks ago and he ended up missing out on a potential 50 points and ended the year fourth.
But Wilson is making the step up to the MCE British Superbike class with Gearlink, who were awarded team of the year at last night's CJ Riders' Fund dinner, and the quiet lad is adamant that he will be fit and rearing to go in time for testing in early March. He knows it will be a challenge making the step up from the 600 to 1000 machine after being in the Supersport class for five years, but he is confident of doing well and is aiming for a Showdown spot at the end of the year.
"There is still a cast on my leg and it comes off on Thursday and as soon as it is off I will be out on the bike getting myself fit again. I haven't been able to do much, but I can't sit around and do nothing but there is not long to go now. I will have some physiotherapy when the cast comes off and I want to get back to normal as fast as I can," said Wilson, speaking to bikesportnews.com.
"I have been in Supersport for five years and now I want to move on to the next step and I think being with Gearlink will be the best option and next year will be a learning year, but I definitely want to be near the front. Jumping on to the 1000 from being on the 600 is a big step and I will have to change my riding style a lot, but I hope to be somewhere near to the front.
"There is a testing ban now so from the end of the year we can't go out till the first of March, but we might get a shakedown test on a road bike before we hang the leathers up for the winter. I would love to make the Showdown and I think it is a realistic goal and I want to do well and not just make up the numbers. I want to go out there and train harder and make sure I am one hundred percent for the start of the season. I think my eyes will pop out the first time I go out on a 1000 bike as it is much faster than the 600."