Ralf Waldmann

Chris Burns

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Ralf Waldmann and Chris Burns are the rider partnership that will campaign the Harris-WCM machines in the 2003 Moto GP World Championship. Waldmann brings a huge weight of Grand Prix winning experience to the squad, which combines with Burns¹ youthful talent to head a superb Grand Prix team.

WCM has won five 500cc Grand Prix and with Waldmann adding his six 125cc and fourteen 250cc victories the squad as an enviable pedigree.

The German has had his greatest success in the 250 class, twice finishing runner up in the World Championship but he also campaigned a 500. He rode in the premier class on the three cylinder Modenas in 1998 for team Roberts. It was not a competitive year for the machine but he demonstrated that his ability was certainly not limited to the smaller classes.

At thirty six Waldmann is still a couple of years younger than fellow Moto GP star Jeremy McWilliams and certain that he very much wants to race at the front again. "I had stopped but I missed racing so much that I did three GPs last year with a small team I put together myself. I realised that I could still ride fast, I have the confidence that I can do it and I really love it."

"That is more than anything why I want to race, it is not the money, I love racing, I have raced in every class from 80cc, through 125 250 and 500 to now Moto GP. I have also ridden Superbikes and Supersports 600s. I know that my style suites the big bikes because I am not really a high corner speed rider, I like to use the power and I found that when I rode Kenny's 500."

Having ridden alongside Roberts junior Waldmann knows he has what it takes. "That was an exciting year on the 500, I was at the same level as Kenny and I know that I can ride at that level. I am very happy to be joining the WCM team, a very professional group and I am sure it will be a very good year."

Twenty two year old Burns has been riding four cylinder four strokes for much of the past five seasons, mostly in Britain but with enough winning experience in Europe in the Superstock category to wet his appetite. "I can't wait to get going, I know it's going to be a steep learning curve, I've got to learn most of the circuits as well as the bike but I'm certainly up for it."

"It is great news that Ralf is in the team, I don't know him personally yet but I hear he's a good bloke and I certainly respect what he's done, he's got a huge amount of experience and I am looking forward to learning from him."

Director of Racing Peter Clifford is naturally thrilled with the signings.

"We already had a superb team of people putting the motorcycles together. Dave Hagen is preparing the engines and Harris Performance Products the rolling chassis. The WCM team that won GP's as Red Bull Yamaha brings that experience to the mix and we now have two guys well capable of making the very best of what we can provide."

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