World Superbike Team Legal News
Following Assen World Superbike, officials in the UK allegedly found large quantities of drugs on the Paul Bird Motorsport transporter truck, the team which runs the Kawasaki Racing Team.
According to reports, quantities of cocaine, amphetamines and cannabis were found on the PBM Kawasaki 18-wheeler at the port of Dover as it was returning to the UK last month. HM Customs allegedly arrested four men who were operating the transporter, but they were later released after the search.
On Monday, Paul Bird Motorsports, which fields Tom Sykes, Chris Vermeulen and Joan Lascorz, released a statement, saying the drugs were deposited onto the transporter while the team was in Holland participating in the Assen World Superbike race.
Following is the statement from Paul Bird Motorsports:
Following media speculation, Paul Bird Motorsport can confirm that a quantity of banned substances had been deposited in a race transporter while the vehicle was in Holland attending the recent Assen World Superbike event.
The substances, along with a number of other illegal items, were discovered upon the vehicle’s return to the UK at the port of Dover during a routine examination by HM Customs.
Naturally, the discovery came as a shock to the whole team, including those who were present during the search. The team are confident that no team member has any connection whatsoever with the items discovered. No one has been detained after the time of the search and all team members are able to undertake their normal duties.
There is no suggestion of the Paul Bird Motorsport Team being involved in illegal activities and no other team members have been interviewed following the incident. The team staff present at the time of the search and discovery enjoy the full support and confidence of the team and all involved are determined to offer their full cooperation to HM Customs in their ongoing investigations.
Understandably, the team are now taking stringent measures to increase the security of their vehicles as they travel throughout Europe in future. Despite the personal effect on the team, Paul Bird Motorsport will be attending the next World Superbike event at Monza, Italy at full strength and with a determination to focus on the Championship.
