Chris Walker makes surprising sidecar switch

CHRIS Walker will make a return to the British Superbike paddock in 2016, but on three wheels instead of two as he competes in the British Sidecar Championship. 

Walker is set to make his racing debut on three wheels at Oulton Park in May with the experienced Santander Salt Kawasaki team. 

Speaking about his reasons for the switch, Walker explained: 'There is so much bright talent emerging in BSB right now and I have looked at the larger picture; I am a racer through and through, I always will be. This is a time for some of the young riders to get their chances whilst in my mid 40s I can still go racing and still get that feeling of a challenge, which is an amazing thing to be able to say.

'I really don't know what to expect and that is what I think excites me the most. The sidecar is completely different to a Superbike in terms of the gearing and braking so I am sure that will be something for me to get my head around, but the biggest draw for me is the new challenge.

'I have the security of some great team-mates and good people around me who I can learn from. I want to come out and chip away because I know that this is probably one of the biggest challenges of my career. With a Superbike I had ridden a bike since the age of three; I have only had a go in a sidecar once and that was in 1986 and a completely different animal!'

Concluding, the East Midlands rider said: 'I have no preconceptions and I am realistic about the season. I will approach it like I did when I first raced Superbikes and that is to learn from my more experienced team-mates and use that as a gauge and just keep trying to improve.  

'Hopefully the same thought process that worked for me in my Superbike career will replicate onto three wheels too! The team have shown faith in me by giving me this opportunity and I am just excited now to get started.'

Walker will get his first taste of racing a sidecar in six weeks as he begins the debut test for one of the biggest challenges he's faced in his racing career to date.

• Sign up for Visordown's weekly newsletter, Bugsplat, to get the best motorcycle news, road tests and features plus exclusive competitions and offers direct to your inbox. Register as a Visordown member here and tick the box for Bugsplat in your newsletter settings here.