Coxhell to go out on his own

January 23, 2009

Craig Coxhell, the 2003 Australian Superbike champion, will race for his own dealer-supported team in 2009 - CJC Racing.

After severing ties with the Suzuki factory team at the end of last year, Coxhell decided the time was right - despite the economic uncertainty - to go out on his own in 2009.

Coxhell will ride a Honda CBR1000RR in the Australian Superbike Championship (ASC), with support from two Victorian dealerships: the bikes supplied by Jeffery Honda and the engines prepared by Geoff Winzer's G.A.S. Honda.

Winzer is a tuning guru, and has fettled a number of leading privateer Hondas over the past few years.

The team will be based at Coxhell's family business - Shepparton Motor Body Builders.

"There has always been a part of me that wanted my own team and the time was right to put it together," said Craig. "I need to thank all the people who have stepped in to provide support to make this team a reality.

"This team is not something we're doing by halves, the opportunity for the major sponsor will be with one with the most professionally presented, most competitive teams on the grid.

"On top of that we've got a bunch of people who are committed to making it work - some of the best people in the industry."

By his own lofty standards, 2008 was an ordinary year for Coxhell when he only finished fifth in the ASC after a superb second the year before.

In 2003, Coxhell defeated Suzuki teammate Shawn Giles to claim the Aussie Superbike title, after which he competed overseas - mainly in the UK - for three years.

He then returned to Australia and straight back into the Suzuki fold.

Coxhell has been replaced by Josh Waters in the 2009 Suzuki Superbike squad, with AMA supermoto champion Troy Herfoss taking Waters' spot in Supersport.

For more information on the 2009 ASC, click here.