By Phil Wain
December 20 2005

36-year-old Ballymoney rider Adrian Archibald has signed to ride for Ulster based Team Racing, using Yamaha machinery, for the 2006 road race season. Having recently parted company with the AIM Racing squad, Archibald has been snapped up by Team Racing chief Sam Finlay to contest all three International Road Races, and a full season of Irish National events.

The three time Isle of Man TT winner will have at his disposal a Yamaha R1 Superbike machine, one of the new Yamaha R1 SP Superstock bikes, and two R6 Supersport machines - as he looks to continue his career at the forefront of the road racing scene, where he has been one of the sport’s leading exponents for the past ten years.

Team Racing will enjoy the support of title sponsor Balloo Property Developments in 2006, in what will be their first foray back into road racing after two years away from the paddock. They return with a full team infrastructure, competitive machinery, a 40-foot race transporter, and one of the best road racers Ireland has ever produced - at a time when the sport is already well supported by large and professional teams.

Speaking on the announcement of his plans, Adrian Archibald said:
“I am delighted to get a deal like this sorted out so quickly after leaving my last team. I was worried that I might find it difficult to find a berth with a competitive team at this stage in proceedings, as most of the bigger teams have already made their signings for 2006. But when I got the offer from Sam, I was over the moon, because this deal is exactly what I am looking for. Competitive machinery, a professional team, and the opportunity to race wherever and whenever I want.

“I am more excited about a season than I have been for some time, and I am looking forward to getting out on the track and proving a point. 2005 was a difficult year, but with a bit more luck it could have been another good year, and I should have won another TT. In 2006 I aim to be winning races regularly, and at the TT I will be going all out to increase my win tally, and giving Team Racing their first TT win.”

Team Principal Sam Finlay added:
“As a team we have taken a couple of years out, but when Adrian became available we decided that it was the right time to get back involved in the road racing scene. Adrian has consistently been one of the best road racers in the world for many years, and having worked with him in the past, I know exactly what he is capable of. We have a team infrastructure to rival anything in the paddock, and we have set about building Yamaha machinery to the highest possible specification. Now we have a proven winner riding our bikes, and it is an exciting time for everyone involved in our team.”