"I heard about the Trophy last year and I must say I thought it was a fantastic idea, really exciting.
"I think a one make championship is a great idea for developing talent. I mean you just have to look at the talent that the Yamaha R6 cup has uncovered. As a one make series goes it is an expensive option and coming in at British Championship level can put a lot of pressure on youngsters. One of the great benefits of the GSX-R Trophy is it is at a lower level so we will get grass roots riders - absolute raw talent which will provide us with a blank canvas to work with.
"Racing can be a very expensive pursuit and the fact that the GSX-R Trophy is affordable makes it a more viable proposition for a lot of people. The GSX-R is a great road bike and an equally brilliant race bike too. I really do hope that the championship will make its mark and go a long way.
"Way back in the late 1980’s, I think it was 1987, I took part in a one make series and that was the Honda CBR Challenge. It was a massive learning curve, but it was a great experience to be up against talented riders on equal machinery. I’m really glad I did it as there were riders on track who were better than me and it allowed me to tag onto them and learn from their riding skills. It is an excellent way to move forward.
"The fact that there are two rounds of the Trophy at the British MotoGP is exciting. The riders will feel privileged to be there and it will be a very thrilling time for them.
"I’m looking forward to finding fresh talent and hopefully a future British Champion."