Santander Salt TAG Racing have confirmed they will take a sabbatical for the remainder of the 2020 Bennetts British Superbike Championship, before returning next season and announcing the continued relationship with Dan Linfoot.
The team have announced that after a challenging start to their 2020 campaign that they will not continue for the remainder of this season, allowing the team to focus on building a highly competitive package for the 2021 series.
Linfoot will return with the team in 2020 however, making them the first combination announce their plans for the new season after 18 months with the team.
Shaun Winfield and Liam Delves will however continue with the team for the remaining rounds of the Pirelli National Superstock 1000 and 600 Championship’s respectively.
Linfoot said: “I’m delighted to be able to stay with the team for a third year, although this may come as a surprise to many after our withdrawal for the rest of this season but I love working with the team and I’m excited for what the future has in store for us.
“Due to our withdrawal for the remainder of this season this naturally led to a conversation regarding 2021 where both I and the team were pleased to agree to compete again next season with a different package underneath me.
“They’ve been behind me all through the tough times and actively encouraged me to go and race with another team for the remainder for this season, which I am extremely grateful for and looking forward to being at the front again. I’m also fully behind the team’s decision to withdraw for the remainder of the season, and I’m confident that next season we can be back to be where we all know I and the team can be.
“It’s nice to know what I will be doing next season but at this point my main focus is on coming back in 2021 a stronger rider and showing what we can do together.”
Jack Kennedy said: “2020 has been strange in many ways and this season definitely hasn't panned out as I had planned. It's a tough situation, and not one I've been in before but it seems a good solution and I think it gives everyone the benefit of working towards the same goal.
“My team, Santander Salt TAG Racing, have taken a tough decision and to be fair, they have been pretty decent to me. They've also shown great belief in me as a rider by giving me a lifeline to stand in with another team for the remainder of this season and an offer to ride for them again in 2021.”
Team manager Gary Winfield commented: “We’re really pleased to sign Dan once again for 2021 and to agree it so early on I feel is a real statement of intent from us. Throughout the issues over the last 18 months Dan has remained incredibly professional and continued to do his job with the upmost integrity.
“It will mark his third season with us and we’re delighted he made his decision as fast as he did. We and Dan know that what has happened over the previous six rounds of this season hasn’t been good enough, it was a mutual decision to for us to focus on next season, which we are now doing, and we wish Dan and Jack the very best of luck for the rest of 2020 season.
“We’re also pleased to confirm Shaun will be back for a second season in the National Superstock 1000 Championship, he’s hit the ground running so far this year and has impressed with his performances in what is an extremely strong and competitive field. We’re confident with the package that we are planning to run will see him back up at the sharp end.
“We’re close to announcing what our new vision for 2021 will be, we’ve spent plenty of time planning it and we’re confident we can once again prove plenty of people wrong, much like we have done in the past. Finally I need to thank all of our sponsors and partners, but rest assured we’ll be back stronger in 2021.”