Jack Valentine to leave Crescent Suzuki

AFTER five years, Jack Valentine has announced that this will be his last season with Crescent Suzuki.

He will leave the team at the end of the current season - the two parties appear to be on good terms. Valentine said: 'I have enjoyed my five years with the Crescent Suzuki Superbike team and it has been great to work with all the people involved throughout that time and I am obviously sad to be leaving'

Valentine arrived in 2007 - at the time the team was still racing in BSB. He took a prominent role in the development of young riders such as Tom Sykes, Sylvain Guintoli and Tommy Hill - who narrowly missed out on the title in 2010 under Valentine's stewardship. He was also instrumental in bringing former MotoGP ace John Hopkins to the Crescent Suzuki BSB set-up.

This season, Crescent Suzuki's first in World Superbikes, Valentine has developed them into a highly competitive team. Team principle Paul Denning (who will take over the day to day running of the team) said: 'Jack has always retained a positive and professional attitude, which has not only helped the team in some difficult moments, but enhanced the spirit in some exciting times. I wish him well and hope our paths cross again. He'll always be a friend of the team and Crescent Suzuki.'

Valentine was seen last weekend in the Silverstone BSB paddock...could he have a new job lined up?