YORK superbike racer Joey Thompson has linked up with Northern Ireland’s Wilson Craig Honda Racing Team ahead of the 2022 Road Racing season.

The partnership will see Thompson ride one of the WCR CBR600RR Supersport Hondas in selected Irish Road Races, along with the North West 200, Isle of Man TT, Ulster Grand Prix, Scarborough and Aberdare races.

In addition, Thompson and the Wilson Craig Racing Team will contest the Ulster Supersport 600 Championships which gets underway at Bishopscourt in County Down on April 2, 2022.

Thompson, who has a wealth of experience at national and international level, rode for the Wilson Craig Team in two races in 2021 at Aberdare and at the final round of the British Supersport Championships at Brands Hatch last month, in which he scored his first British Championships points of the season.

Speaking about the agreed link up with the Wilson Craig Team, Thompson feels that he has the right package for next season to have a determined assault at the Isle of Man TT Races - an event he is particularly keen on.

"I started road racing at 17," Thompson explained of his journey. "Since then, I have achieved 24 national wins, numerous international wins and two top-five finishes at the Isle of Man TT

"In 2022, I got the opportunity to sign for one of road racing's most famous teams in the Wilson Craig Racing Team, which has fostered names like Guy Martin.

"It gives me great confidence to ride for such a renowned team.

“It's a pleasure to have put pen to paper with the Wilson Craig Honda Team for 2022," Thompson added. "They are a team that I have always looked at as one of the top teams in the country, and I am certainly looking forward to next season.

"I have had to pinch myself in the knowledge that this is the team that inspired riders such as William Dunlop, Guy Martin, Davy Todd and many more, and now I find myself part of this great team.

"I have been away from the scene for a while and at one stage, I didn’t know if I was even going to be riding this year.

"The last couple of seasons I did not enjoy racing, but the Wilson Craig Team is like a family environment and that has taken a lot off my shoulders to come back racing in a competitive team.

"Of course, without my personal sponsors I could not do this and they have also played a major part in my plans for 2022."

Team principal Darren Gilpin added: “We are very happy to welcome Joey to the team for the 2022 season.

"Joey has raced for us as a stand-in rider for two events last year. He fitted in well to the team environment, and had a win and several podiums at Aberdare.

"He is still a young rider but has also had a lot of success at international level during his short career, in which he also has a professional approach to racing which is a requirement within our team."

The race meetings this year are Tandragee 100, North West 200, Armoy Road Races, Isle of Man TT Races, Scarborough, Aberdare Park and Ulster Grand Prix (TBC).

The Ulster Supersport 600 Championship dates are Bishopscourt (April 2), Bishopscourt (April 16), Kirkistown (April 18), Kirkistown (June 4), Bishopscourt (July 16 to 17), Kirkistown (September 3), Bishopscourt (September 17 to 18), St Angelo (October 1), Sunflower Races Bishopscourt (October 21 to 22).

Thompson is looking for sponsors to help him on his journey.

"Unfortunately, this sport comes with a price tag," he said.

"Without support, none of this is possible.

"If anyone would like to be a part of this, get in touch at joeythompsonracing@yahoo.co.uk."