With news coming out that the Kawasaki World Superbike team that is run by Paul Bird Motorsports had a large amount of cocaine, amphetamines, and marijuana seized from two of the team’s trucks while entering the United Kingdom, Paul Bird Motorsports has released a statement addressing the issue on how such a large quantity of drugs found its way onto the team’s vehicles.
While the team is not sure how the drugs came on-board the team trucks, Paul Bird Motorsports was quick to point out that it was confident that none of its team members were involved, and that no one from the WSBK squad has been detained since the initial seizure. You can read the full press statement after the jump.
Following media speculation, Paul Bird Motorsport can confirm that a quantity of banned substances had been deposited in a race transporter while the vehicle was in Holland attending the recent Assen World Superbike event.
The substances, along with a number of other illegal items, were discovered upon the vehicle’s return to the UK at the port of Dover during a routine examination by HM Customs.
Naturally, the discovery came as a shock to the whole team, including those who were present during the search. The team are confident that no team member has any connection whatsoever with the items discovered. No one has been detained after the time of the search and all team members are able to undertake their normal duties.
There is no suggestion of the Paul Bird Motorsport Team being involved in illegal activities and no other team members have been interviewed following the incident. The team staff present at the time of the search and discovery enjoy the full support and confidence of the team and all involved are determined to offer their full cooperation to HM Customs in their ongoing investigations.
Understandably, the team are now taking stringent measures to increase the security of their vehicles as they travel throughout Europe in future. Despite the personal effect on the team, Paul Bird Motorsport will be attending the next World Superbike event at Monza, Italy at full strength and with a determination to focus on the Championship.
Source: WorldSBK
heh, yeah best to take “more stringent measures to increase the security of their vehicles as they travel throughout Europe” because it’s just SO likely that a non-team member snuck into the facility and filled the bike with cocaine so that he could skirt across the border behind them and sneak back into the facility to remove it! Give me a break. I find it hard to believe that a few guys on the team don’t know exactly what happened.
This excuse has always worked for Paris Hilton’s handbag? “How did that get in there?!”
Tim i have to agree with you 100% on that one…they must assume we were all born yesterday!….i can kinda get weed…even kinda get coke (not really, only when you put it next to meth) but meth!..thats just gross…anybody who is into meth should be pushed off the cliffs of dover and save us all some headaches
Where does it say anything about Meth? It’s says amphetamine tablets which is basically they shit they used to sell at GNC a fews years ago, but it was called Ripped Fuel.
extasy is often referred to by the police as amphetamines.
Casting aside the discussion of whether any drugs should be illegal at all, it seems rather unlikely that nobody associated with the team knew anything about the contraband. But, if they have the right connections, the nonchalant denials will probably suffice.
If they really wanted to get to the bottom of this, I would think that it would be as simple as reviewing the security tapes at the loading area at the Assen track. It would seem unlikely that they would not have video surveillance at the area.
Paul Bird Motorsports statement on drugs found in team truck
http://www.asphaltandrubber.com/racing/spaul-bird-motorsports-drugs-statement/
Drugs are one thing but finding a gun with ammo is very serious in the UK. If I were one or their sponsors, I would drop them like a hot potato.
Wow … I guess people will do anything nowadays.
Too bad they got caught. I support the use of illegal narcotics. And motorcycle racing. Together.
Well, not at the same time, but in the same week, although it has a slight effect on lap times from my experience.
Nevertheless, having a crew member taking drugs could cost a rider everything.