Earlier today CCM Racing officially announced Buildbase, one of the UK’s fastest growing builders’ merchants, as their title sponsor for the 2009 season. With immediate effect the team will now be known as Buildbase CCM Racing.

Buildbase have branches throughout the UK and see the CCM Racing motocross team as the ideal platform on which to promote and extend both their brand and their products. Buildbase continues to be involved in the British Superbike Championship, as well as supporting CCM Racing’s efforts both at domestic and World levels.

Buildbase currently boasts one hundred and fifty branches across the country stretching from Shetland in Scotland down to Exmouth on the South West coast,
The success and reputation of Buildbase has been built on understanding the needs of trade professionals. With a massive stock of top quality products, competitive pricing, reliable delivery, specialist staff and exceptional customer service, it confirms why they have emerged as such a formidable force within the building industry.

Speaking on behalf of Buildbase, Managing Director Stephen Thompstone stated. “We are delighted to be working with CCM Racing. We have a number of branches in the North West of England and close to Bolton the home of CCM. Many of our customers are motocross fans so the association is a natural one. We are looking forward to supporting the riders and the team during 2009. Under the guidance of David Thorpe we are sure that this all British set up is going to be amongst the front-runners this season.”

Adding his comments, CCM Racing’s Technical Director Austin Clews said. “This is a massive boost to the team, and confirms that we have been moving in the right direction since we begun the racing project just over twelve months ago. Having Buildbase on board has brought additional creditability to the team and will allow us the resources we need if we are going to successfully compete against the factory and more established teams in the paddock. This is a great opportunity for us, and one we would like to thank Buildbase for.”

Not content with their initial and recent successes on the track, Buildbase CCM Racing are delighted to announce the addition of yet another new rider to their ranks. Anthony Sutton (aka Sutty) may be better known as the deputy editor of DBR – Dirt Bike Rider Magazine rather than as a motocross rider, but despite spending his days behind the desk he remains a keen and very able off-road rider.

Sutton, who was voted 2008 FIM Off-Road Journalist of the year, will take delivery of his own personalised CCM CMX450 factory machine later this week. This will be an exact replica of the bike that Tom Church rode to a podium finish at the opening round of the 2009 Maxxis ACU British Motocross Championship last weekend and that will also be campaigned at Grand Prix level. This hand built MX1 machine is one of just a handful of these exotic bikes in existence and is normally reserved exclusively for factory riders.

However a unique agreement between Buildbase CCM Racing and DBR will provide the magazine with the factory bike on a long-term test basis, which will become the subject of various editorial features over the coming months. After some initial testing, Sutton plans to embark on a full schedule of events that will include motocross meetings in the main, but he is also looking to try his hand at some Hare Scrambles and even the odd Supermoto on board his factory mount. Excited by this incredible opportunity Sutton stated. “I think it’s fair to say that over the years CCM have always done things a little bit differently and this is possibly why I’ve been given the great opportunity to join the Buildbase CCM Racing team in 2009. With a rich history in racing that includes riders like John Banks, Bob Wright, Vic Eastwood, Donny Schmit, Richard May, Greg Hanson and the current crop of riders – Tom Church, Jason Dougan, Ray Rowson and Alix Dunlop, I feel very privileged to now be included on this list.”

“I might not be the most successful or fastest rider to ever throw my leg over a factory CCM, but I can guarantee that underneath my helmet I’ll be wearing the biggest smile. I’ve got to say a big thanks to Gary Harthern, Steve Hyde, Austin Clews, David Thorpe and the entire Buildbase CCM Racing team for making and allowing this to happen. Cheers guys!” Sutton concluded.

Buildbase CCM Racing, Technical Director Austin Clews spoke on behalf of the team. “I think this is probably a first in letting a non factory rider have access to full factory machinery. When the idea was first put on the table, we were not too sure if it was a serious request or not. However the more we thought about it, the more we liked the whole concept. We feel it is a clear statement of how confident we are about the bike we have built, by allowing it to be ridden outside of the normal remit of a full factory machine. We are sure Sutty will enjoy the whole experience and will provide us with valuable feed back ahead of us launching our production version of this bike, as well as some great additional exposure for all our sponsors.”