Pairing likely to send shockwaves through the sport...

France's Dominique Meliand and Great Britain's Russell Benney are apparently set to form an endurance racing 'dream team' in a bid to win the 2009 Endurance FIM World Championship.

Benney's Phase One team won the World Endurance Championship in 2000 and 2003, while Meliand's SERT team took the title in 2005, 2006, 2007 and 2008. Only Zongshen and GMT94 have been able to challenge these two formidable competitors this century, and the pairing is likely to send shockwaves through the sport.

Russell Benney (left) and Dominique Meliand (right), together at last

Although he professes to be a fan of Triumph, Meliand's experience is almost exclusively Suzuki based. Benney – a former Moto Morini 3½ Sport rider – has raced Hondas, Kawasakis, Suzukis and Harley but is most recently associated with Yamaha. So it has come as some surprise to learn that the pair are proposing to campaign a Kawasaki, albeit in an 'experimental' P&M frame.

Peckett & McNabb framed Kawasaki. Note state-of-the art red seat.

Details are still sketchy at the moment, but the teams first public outing is expected to be at the renowned “April Fish” races, held every year in France on April 1st.

MCN exclusive spy shot of Jeremy McWilliams testing the Phase-SERT Kawasaki

The highly respected UK journal Motorcycle News will carry this exclusive spy shot in their next issue, along with quotes from all involved. Probably. Until then, you can post your messages of support here...

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