BRITISH Supersport staple Appleyard Macadam Yamaha has today launched its development squad as Charlie Farrer and Jack Nixon join the new academy.
The long-standing Bennetts BSB Support paddock team, which last year won an historic fourth title on the bounce with Rory Skinner, has laid plans to nurture young riders in an official capacity from this season.
While Bradley Perie and Rhys Irwin will make up the main Appleyard Macadam lineup taking on the Quattro Group British Supersport championship, Farrer and Nixon join up for their own Pirelli National Junior Superstock assaults.
Farrer joins the programme fresh off a season in the British Talent Cup, where he took the title fight to the final race of the season and just missed out on the title after being taken out. The 19-year-old Mortimer Racing rider moves back to 600cc power after a stint in the Junior Superstock class in 2018.
Nixon, meanwhile, returns to the class after his debut last year where he scored a second place finish at Donington Park. The former Motostar front-runner, cousin of Moto2 man Jake Dixon, continues with the Santander Salt squad this season.
“The team has always prided itself on trying to help develop young riders, so cascading that knowledge down to the Stock class with Jack and Charlie , two bright talents, was an obvious thing to do,” said team boss Robin Appleyard.
“We will try and steepen their learning curve during the season helping with bike set-up and passing on as much experience as we can.”
All four riders will run Yamaha YZF-R6 machines and Appleyard Macadam technicians are set to provide regular support and guidance to Nixon and Farrer.