Coghlan to ride Yamaha in 2014

Kev Coghlan will make use of Yamaha machinery in 2014 after DMC Racing confirmed a switch from Kawasaki ahead of the new World Supersport Championship season.

Coghlan stepped up to the WSS series in 2013 after a strong year at Superstock 1000 level, the Scottish rider proceeding to impress further on a Kawasaki ZX-6R as he picked up three top five finishes - including a podium - in his debut year.

With Coghlan having previously confirmed he is sticking with DMC Racing for 2014, the team has now confirmed it will enter a pair of Yamaha YZF-R6s for both himself and Russian youngster Alexey Ivanov, while Panavto comes on board as the new title sponsor.

After finishing a creditable ninth in his rookie year, Coghlan is looking forward to getting acquainted with the YZF-R6, a bike that won the 2009, 2011 and 2013 WSS titles in the hands of countrymen Cal Crutchlow, Chaz Davies and Sam Lowes respectively.

"I am very pleased to be working for DMC for another season, our third year together and another new experience. So we will have to learn how to take the most from this new bike. First thing will be getting up to speed on the bike as I haven't been riding since November. I hope that by the time we head off to Australia we will already have set some respectable lap times."

In addition to the change in machinery, DMC Panavto Yamaha have also lined up Marcus Eschenbacher as engineer. His acquisition is a coup for the Russian-financed team, with Eschenbacher having previously worked with Yamaha's World Superbike team and, most recently, Eugene Laverty's crew chief at Aprilia.

Three-time champion and 2013 WSS runner-up Kenan Sofuoglu recently tipped Coghlan as being a potential challenger for race wins in 2014.