Ellison at SMT. Linfoot off to Spain

James Ellison will make a sensational return to the MCE Insurance British Superbike Championship from Oulton Park as he joins forces with Sorrymate.com Honda after Dan Linfoot resigned earlier today to chase a Spanish Moto2 ride.

Ellison – a former BSB title contender – will return to the grid in two weeks’ time at Oulton Park.

Ellison looked set to challenge for the title last season, but the six-time BSB race winner’s aspirations of a maiden BSB crown were cruelly cut short when he sustained a broken femur at Thruxton.

He bounced back on the Swan Honda to finish just outside the Showdown top six and he will be reunited with his former Honda when he returns with Robin Croft’s Sorrymate.com Honda team. Ellison will mix both the BSB and World Supersport Championship rounds for the remainder of the season.

Speaking to the BSB website this afternoon Ellison said: “It’s funny how the deal to ride with Robin (Croft) came about as we have been close friends since 2004 and I ask him for advice on a variety of things. He split with Dan and I was so motivated to join him. It is a close knit team and they work so hard to get the results. I have been with the team for a couple of rounds this season to support them and it has all just fallen into place so I will be joining them from Oulton Park.

“It’s a shame for Dan but for me it will be great being part of such a hard-working team; I know they can have results as that is essentially my bike from last season with a few engine upgrades, even the electronics team is the same as I had last year. I am not coming back to BSB just to fill up the places; that bike won races last season and I don’t think there is too much difference in the lap times between then and now.

“I need to prove that I can still ride a Superbike and for my future I want to come and put on a good show for myself and the team in BSB. I have had some bad luck this season in World Supersport so far through no fault of my own with a few issues but at the end of the day people look at the results rather than what caused them..”

Team Owner Robin Croft concluded: “I have a long burning ambition to be a successful team owner, we had a good start to the year but the results haven’t followed. James and I are great friends, we have faith in the bike and there is no question of James ability so we want to fight for podiums straight out the box.”