Kyle Ryde and Keith Farmer will join forces for the Buildbase Suzuki team in next year’s Bennetts British Superbike series.

Ryde enjoyed a successful 2019, adding the British GP2 Championship to his National Superstock 600 title from 2014 and 125 Championship from 2011, while Farmer joins the team as a two-time National Superstock 1000 champion and former British Supersport and National Superstock 600 champion.

Ryde got a taste of Suzuki’s GSX-R1000 at the penultimate round of the Superstock 1000 championship at Donington Park, impressing with his lap times on his way to setting the fourth fastest time in qualifying, before a crash unfortunately ruled him out of the races.

“I enjoyed riding the superstock GSX-R at Donington, and to be honest I was looking for a Superstock 1000 ride for next season but Steve has given me this chance and I’m really thankful and looking forward to it,” said Ryde.

“The Stocker had a great chassis and gave me a good feeling from the front, which is one thing that’s really important to me as a rider. I know the Superbike will be a different animal again but I’m in a team that has a lot of experience with the Suzuki, and a team that will help me learn and develop. If we can start off in the points, hopefully we can build from there and progress towards and into the top ten.”

Farmer was enjoying a good start to 2019, taking a number of top ten finishes including a best of sixth at Brands Hatch, before an injury sustained at Knockhill put him out for the rest of the season. The experienced Northern Irishman is looking to make amends in 2020 and put himself among the Showdown contenders.

“Last year started well but obviously I had the crash at Knockhill and the injury was pretty significant. Honestly, I didn’t expect to be in as good a shape as I am now, but since then I have done everything I can to keep fit and get back to full fitness as soon as possible,” said Farmer.

“That’s been working in the gym, cycling, physio, and even changing my diet. I’ve been back on a supermoto bike to try and keep bike fit, and the movement I have in the legs and ankles is pretty good. I’m excited for next season, it’s a winning bike and I think I’ll have a team around me that want to give me as much bike time as possible so we can have the best season we can.

“The goal is top tens from the start, and push towards the top six and hopefully mix it with the Showdown contenders.”