Aaron Morris to join Maxima BMW for Morgan Park

Former FIM Endurance World Championship (EWC) rider Aaron Morris will compete as a special one-off entry for Maxima BMW during Round 4 of the 2019 Motul Pirelli Australian Superbike Championship (ASBK) at Morgan Park in Queensland (5-7 July), Next Gen Motorsports have confirmed today. 

Newcastle-born Morris joins the team as regular Maxima BMW riders Glenn Allerton and Ted Collins both remain under an injury cloud heading into the July event, after both sustaining injuries during Round 3 of the ASBK at International MotoFest at The Bend Motorsport Park earlier this month.

After impressing the team in a test event on the BMW Superbike at the Pirelli Masters of Morgan Park race meeting earlier this month, Morris was happy to be given the nod for only his second-ever start in the ASBK’s Superbike class. “I’m extremely grateful that both Wayne Hepburn and Shane Kinderis have decided to give me a go for Round 4,” said Morris. “I just hope I can do the team and their sponsors proud by delivering them a good result.”

Maxima BMW Team Manager Wayne Hepburn was impressed with Morris’ performance at the recent test at Morgan Park. “We always knew he was going to be fast, but it was his attitude and his way he gave feedback about the bike is which impressed us the most,” Hepburn said. “It was a no-brainer to offer him a one-off ride for Round 4 of the ASBK to see what he can do under race conditions.”

Morris’ career highlights include fourth in the 2016 24 Heures Motos at Le Mans; 12th in the 2016 Suzuka 8 Hour; and more recently racing historics for Team Australia at the Island Classic, winning two races in the International Challenge ahead of a field packed full of international motorcycle legends.

Despite his extensive experience, Morris has flown under the radar in his native country, doing only one full year in the ASBK in the Supersport class which saw him finish second overall in the six-round 2013 Championship. In 2018 he returned to compete in Round 1 of the ASBK in the Superbike class at the Phillip Island Grand Prix Circuit, finishing ninth overall. 

Dismissing any notions of a full-time ride with the BMW squad, Hepburn was keen to emphasise that this would be a one-off ride only. “At this stage, Aaron will only do Round 4 of the Championship. We’ll see how he goes and then make up our minds for what happens for the remaining three rounds” he said. 

Make sure to get your ticket for Round 4 of the 2019 Motul Pirelli Australian Superbike Championship at Morgan Park, 5-7 July 2019. Be quick! Earlybird ticket pricing closes Saturday, July 1. For more updates and to purchase, head to ASBK.com.au.

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Images courtesy of Next Gen Motorsports