James Lowsley-Williams warmed up for the 2018 Tour Series and insisted: We have a point to prove.
The 26-year-old will be joined by Chris Opie, Andrew Tennant, Alex Paton and Charlie Tanfield in the Canyon Eisberg squad for the opening round in Redditch on Thursday (7.30pm).
Lowsley-Williams was the stand-out performer as the team endured mixed fortunes in last season’s championship.
He registered six top-10s in eight outings and only finished outside the first 13 when suffering a mechanical in Durham.
Opie sprinted to individual glory in round one in Redditch before Lowsley-Williams helped Jack Pullar to success in Aberdeen, as the team filled three of the first four positions.
But that was as good as it got for Tim Elverson’s squad as a challenge for the overall title never materialised.
Lowsley-Williams is confident his team can right that wrong this season, though, and push the likes of defending champions JLT Condor all the way.
Key to that will be the added strength in depth of the squad following the arrivals of the proven performers Tennant and Paton, along with track world champion Charlie Tanfield.
Meanwhile, Lowsley-Williams is looking to raise his own game and challenges for individual honours. He said:
“The Tour Series is definitely a target for me again. I think I’ll shoot myself if I don’t win a round this year!
“Having said that, it’s so tough. But I was top 10 every round until the end last year, so I definitely need a win.
“It is a top target for the team, it really is. On paper we have to have one of the strongest squads.
“It is going to be massively hard just to get into the team. That’s why I have been working so hard this winter!
“I could see myself not getting picked. We have an outrageous team and I think it is a really big target for Tim. It is one big bullet point on his list.
“We had it last year but then had a bit of bad luck and a few guys losing their heads a little bit.
“There is a point to prove this year. We have got it, we have really got it to win the series. I believe that 100 per cent.
“We need to prove it to the sponsors as well. You always have work to do to finance the next year, so it is a big target for me and a big target for the team.”
Lowsley-Williams begins the Tour Series on the back of a sterling effort in the Tour de Yorkshire.
The former UK Youth and NFTO rider sprinted to 22nd on stage three and finished 45th overall after assuming the leadership role following an untimely mechanical for Max Stedman.
On his way to Tour Series individual glory in Redditch last season, Opie registered the Brother fastest lap of 1min 15.699sec on the 1.4km circuit.
ITV4 will once again screen highlights from every round. Highlights from Redditch will be aired at 10.45pm on Saturday.
Click here for the 2018 Tour Series schedule and full schedule of television coverage.
