MIST Suzuki Rider Matt Bond Retires
In a surprise announcement after achieving his inaugural SuperBike Cup podium at Snetterton long time MIST Suzuki rider Matt Bond has chosen to retire from motorcycle racing.
Having progressed with MIST Suzuki since winning the MRO MiniTwins championship in 2005 through three years in the World SuperBike paddock competing in the European SuperStock 600 and European SuperStock 1000 championships before entering the British SuperBike Cup championship in 2009.
Speaking of his retirement Matt said “Obviously I am disappointed to be leaving half way through the season before fully getting to grips with the bike. With all our bad luck this season it has been frustrating not to be able to show our potential, particularly with the accidents that haven’t been our fault and the many crucial performance parts that have been promised but still haven’t arrived”.
When pressed on the reasons for the timing of his decision to retire Matt added “Having to work five or six long days a week just to live plus having to make up any time missed for racing leaves little or no time for going to the gym or doing much else. Despite a change of jobs the problems have built up over the last year or so and eventually got to the point where something had to give. Unfortunately my passion for racing has suffered during this struggle to the point where I don’t feel able to give my best any longer so feel it time to bow out now”.
Team Manager Mike Edwards said “We are really sad to see Matt leave as he has grown up as part of the team over the last four and a half years. There are only a handful of riders who have raced in Europe, qualified at the front of the grid and achieved top ten finishes against factory teams. Not only has Matt competed at the top level of International racing he has worked hard to develop several competitive race bikes along the way and demonstrated his immense talent for all to see”.
“There have been many achievement during this time, lapping within 0.5 seconds of Leon Haslam and being just 0.5 seconds behind after an 80 km race at Almeria stands out, as does qualifying in front of Michael Schumacher at Magny Cours and taking a road going GSXR1000K9 to within 1.8 seconds of the Portimao SuperStock lap record all stand out. My biggest regret is that Matt has not been able to fully demonstrate just how good he really is at the top level of competition and we are sorry to see him retire when he has come so far and is now so close to where he deserves to be”.
In the wake of this news MIST Suzuki chose to miss the Knockhill and Mallory Park rounds of the Championship and are planning to return at the high profile Brands Hatch meeting where the team hope to demonstrate a number of upgrades to the bike as several long awaited parts finally arrive for the machine and the team gets some time to set up an uprated electronics and engine package.
The search for a replacement rider continues and, along with it, the ongoing search for a title sponsor who can appreciate the opportunities the team and the championship have to offer.