Moto Rapido confirm BSB ‘Evo’ team

Moto Rapido Ducati will make a step up to the MCE British Superbike Championship next season with a two-rider team.

Current racer Scott Smart will return to the main class after a successful year in the Metzeler National Superstock 1000 series and will campaign a Superbike under the new Evo rules. An as-yet-unnamed second man will join him in the squad.

Team manager Steve Moore said: “We had a good year in Superstock and learned a lot about the Ducati, so that has put us in good stead for the jump up to the Superbike class with the Evo rules.

“I am happy to say we have retained all of our sponsors for 2010 and I would like to thank them for their continued support. I believe the team are in a good position to challenge for wins next year, which is in no small part down to our partners.”

Maidstone’s Smart is a former 250 and 500GP rider, and already a proven race winner in the British Superbike Championship. He is relishing a return to the big class and the challenge of the Evo rules.

“It feels good to be sorted with a great team for next year and I am really looking forward to being back in the main championship,” he said. “I think the Evo rules should create some close racing and it will great to be fighting up at the sharp end again.

“The package we have got together for the Ducati looks to be really strong and we have setup data for all the circuits on the calendar now, plus some more data from Ducati Corse, so it should be a lot of fun.”