Kawasaki sign Easton

Kawasaki will have their strongest presence in British racing since the days of Team Green in the early 80s after signing former British Supersport champ Stuart Easton to ride the all-new ZX-6R in the 600s class.

Two weeks after signing Michael Rutter to ride in a new factory-backed BSB effort, 2002 BSS champ Easton will line-up in the same team with team-mate Keiran Murphy as the firm bids to claim the top two domestic titles.

The MSS Discovery squad will get support from Japan, but like in BSB expect to do the bulk of development work themselves with no works World Supersport Kawasaki teams.

Easton won the title in 2002 on a MonsterMob Ducati, but ever since then injuries and team troubles have dogged his career. His 2007 season looked like heading the same way after a provisional deal with the title-winning Northpoint Honda team fell through after they decided to leave BSS for World Supersport.

   Easton said: “I’m so lucky that Nick Morgan and Stuart Simmonds at MSS threw me a lifeline. After three years of raw deals and injuries, I need a good season to restart my career.

   “I think the four-cylinder will actually suit me more. The Ducatis are smooth and torquey but not very agile. The fours, although fiercer in the way they deliver the power, are more agile, that’s a good combination for British tracks.”