THE Salisbury-based Gearlink Kawasaki racing team has left the British Superbike Championship paddock after 20 years of competition.
Team owner Michael de Bidaph confirmed his retirement from racing in September, and his green and orange bikes were raced for the last time at Brands Hatch on October 13.
Mr De Bidaph and his wife Norma set out in the sport as James Hillier's sponsors in 2004.
In 2005, they launched a team alongside Hillier and his dad, competing in the Supersport Cup and claiming several podiums.
Three years later, Gearlink became the official Kawasaki UK British Supersport team.
They were unable to achieve a title win but came close on several occasions, coming in second five times, most recently in 2023.
Ben Wilson was their closest rider to winning the Supersport crown in 2011, when he missed out by one point to Alastair Seeley in the final round at Brands Hatch.
Fellow riders to have finished in second for Gearlink include Andrew Irwin (2017), Ben Currie (2018 and 2021) and Tom Booth-Amos (2023).
In 2024, World Supersport rider Can Öncü raced as a wild card for Gearlink in the British Supersport Championship at Donington Park, taking a win and a second place.
The team regularly competed in Northern Ireland at the North West 200, where they achieved several wins and podiums.
The most notable of these came in 2016, when Alastair Seeley raced to victory in the Supersport class to become the most successful rider at the circuit.
Read more: Superbike team 'couldn't be happier' with race weekend at home circuit
Team owner Michael de Bidaph said: “I must admit that we never set out to achieve such success ending up with an Arctic, a forty-foot motorhome, several race bikes and numerous race equipment, but I think our deep passion for this wonderful sport has been a contributing factor towards this feat.”
Ben Wilson, who became the team manager after retiring from racing, said: “Gearlink Kawasaki has been a massive part of my life and really has moulded me into the person I am today.
“I've had some big highs and equally some big lows, chased championships and had the privilege of standing on the podium many times in the iconic green and orange livery.
“The past few years of running the team have been an honour and a privilege, and we have enjoyed much success along the way.
“We never quite managed a championship title, but we came pretty close!
“This is the end of an era now, and it will leave a huge hole in mine and my family's life, but the time feels right now to make this Gearlink’s last season.”
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here