Paragon Banking : 27/03/2019 | British superbiker links up with Paragon for official trailer

Acclaimed British superbiker Lee Johnston has linked up with Paragon for his new race season after the specialist lender financed his official trailer and motorhome.

Paragon's logo is emblazoned proudly on the side of Johnston's high-speed motorbikes in every race along with on the commercial trailer transporting his bikes and equipment to each venue.

The opportunity came about as Paragon has a long-standing relationship financing large plant machinery for Hull-based East Coast Construction, whose owner Phil Reed has sponsored the 29-year-old TT race winner for many years.

Due to Paragon offering a wide range of products across asset finance and motor finance, it led to Reed turning to Paragon to arrange finance for Lee Johnston's official racing trailer - a 44ft Pocklington Coachworks trailer, which comprises a full race garage and workshop set up along with race control and office space.

While Johnston also teamed up with Paragon to buy his new motorhome, which he will stay in with his partner and new baby during race meetings. He opted for one of the largest motorhomes available from Europe, a Bürstner Elegance.

Richard Doe, Managing Director of Commercial lending at Paragon, said:

Paragon is proud to have its logo feature alongside such a talented rider as Lee Johnston and we wish him luck in all his races this season.

Helping Lee and his team to secure the trailer and motorhome they needed feels very satisfying as we work hard to improve access to funding for British businesses and people to support them in achieving their ambitions.

Millions of motor sport fans will watch Johnston compete under the Ashcourt Racing banner this season at the North West 200, Isle of Man TT and Ulster Grand Prix, where he will ride S1000RR and R6 machines in the Superbike and Superstock classes.

The 29-year-old from Northern Ireland, who is a former race winner at the North West 200 and TT, will also be seen contesting the British Supersport Championship for the first time since 2011.

Phil Reed, owner of East Coast Construction, said:

I've dealt with the team at Paragon for a while as it is easy to get help when I need to buy something quickly, whether it's a car, lorry, excavator or other piece of machinery, so in return, I was happy to put the Paragon logo on the trailer and Lee's bikes.

I've known Lee for a long time. He first raced in my team in 2011 and lived in a caravan behind my house, so I'm excited that he is back racing with us this year.

Superbiker Lee Johnston said:

I'm really pleased with my motorhome as I'll be spending three to four months a year in the motorhome for racing and I much prefer a motorhome to a hotel.

I normally have American motorhomes but they are too large to take on holiday in the UK and my partner and I like to stay somewhere like the Lake District and go cycling or walking. So this time, I've opted for one of the largest motorhome available in Europe - a Bürstner Elegance.

The Elegance is the flagship model in the Bürstner fleet with luxury features.

Paragon has moved into financing motorhomes more and more in recent years. Its Motor finance team finances the leisure vehicles through a network of dealers and brokers with terms that go up to 10 years, which can make buying a motorhome a more affordable reality for many.

The specialist lender's products now span a wide range of business areas from manufacturing to printing, business equipment, technology, media, aviation, construction, transportation and legal practice finance. There is also working capital funding for SMEs through invoice discounting and factoring.

27 March 2019