Well, the news is out now – Nitrous Competitions have taken over OMG Racing
Whilst this actually happened a number of weeks ago, it is only today that the news has been made public, so as to allow for the smoothest of transitions from myself to Dave and Matty.
Since Nitrous came on board with OMG Racing, Dave has expressed his desire to take over the team, and at first, to be totally honest, I was very reluctant to essentially “let my baby go”, but over time I started to look at what we have done as a team and to evaluate which aspects I had enjoyed the most.
We started in the 2018 season at the back of the grid, with just enough spares and equipment to make things work, but over time we improved and improved.
Our first win came at the start of 2019 at Silverstone, with Josh Elliott:
2 years on Suzuki…
…another 2 years on BMW…
…and then the switch to Yamaha!
2022 saw Kyle Ryde and Brad Ray as team-mates in our first Yamaha year, with Brad taking the title, with the team also taking the Team Championship.
2023 then saw Kyle finish 3rd in the Championship, just behind the battle for 1st and 2nd between Glenn and Tommy, which Tommy took by just half a point!
2024 was Kyle’s year, taking his first title in what was, arguably, the finest final race (and especially the final 2 laps) that the Bennetts British Superbike Championship has ever seen.
OMG again also took the Teams’ Championship, along with the Manufacturers’ Championship in 2024 too.
OMG are now among the most successful teams of recent years and in a way, I have done what I set out to do.
My greatest enjoyment throughout the journey I have had with OMG is the progression from the very back of the grid when we started, to being at the very top and always expected to be at the sharp end.
It’s the growth, the improvement, that very progression that has pushed me to always try to do more.
The future of the team and its future successes are, I firmly believe, in more than capable hands with Dave and Matty at Nitrous Competitions, with Paul Curran continuing as Team Pricipal, and I further believe that more championships will come. In fact I’m certain of it.
A sponsor owning a team is a dream.
It’s the most secure a team can ever be, and the fan base of BSB and Nitrous Competions are a perfect blend – we’re all mad petrol heads at the end of the day!
I’ve spoken over the last weeks to everyone in the team about the changes happening and the challenge I am looking to take on now.
From a personal point of view, I need that growth again, I need that progression again.
And to that end, in conjunction with Paul Curran and Kove Moto, I will be starting an Academy Team in the BSB paddock in 2026.
Using the Kove 450RR in the 7x HP class, I will be looking to help a total of 4 riders.
I’m also exciting by the possibility of a new 7x HP class that would allow riders from 14-years-old to compete on what would be a standard engine version of the Kove 450RR, and give me the opportunity of bringing an additional 4 riders into the academy, allowing us to work with and help a total of 8 riders.
Not only will the academy seek to help riders improve their riding sills, but also to help them with media training and social media promotion to take them to a level where they will be sought out by other teams in the BSB, WSBK and MotoGP paddocks.
I have always believed that the future of our sport lies in helping young riders to improve & progress, and helping mould & train these young men and women to be future stars in the paddock is a journey I am relishing.
If you happen to be a Superbike rider reading this, or in fact any other top-class rider that I’m fortunate enough to know, feel certain that I will come begging for the odd half an hour to come and talk to the riders in the academy!
The Kove 450RR package (in both stock and performance variants) will be a vastly more affordable but still hugely competitive option for riders within the academy (and for anyone looking to just purchase and run in their own team) than anything else in the market, and will bring racing to a much more affordable level, which I feel is vital for the future of the sport we all love.
More details on the academy will come in due course, but I know that I will personally get immense satisfaction from helping as many riders step up and improve and move on to bigger and greater things.
Who knows, one day when I’m frail and old watching MotoGP in my care home, I may well be looking at a World Champion and be able to be a little smug knowing I helped them along their way.
It’s what dreams are made of eh?
Oh, don’t forget to visit Nitrous Competions to buy some tickets and then cheer on Kyle!
Come on Youth!
One very last but absolutely essential thing:
I would like to thank every single member of the OMG team (both past and present) for their absolute dedication to everything we have ever done. It’s all been possible because of you, and you have made me immensely proud, and I sincerely hope that you’re proud too. You bloody should be!
And one last very very final thing – to all you OMG fans, thank you!
Some of you are really quite odd and a little mad, some of you scare me a little, but to be fair, you’ve all been lovely!
Thank you.
Alan Gardner
