Rutter's Kawasaki deal

Michael Rutter has sealed a deal to ride factory-backed Kawasaki ZX-10Rs for a brand new British Superbike team in 2007.

The most experienced rider in BSB will be back with Kawasaki next year for the first time since 2001 with well-known British Supersport squad MSS Discovery in a one-man team on his preferred Dunlop tyres.

Rutter rode for the Stobart Honda team in 2006 and was agonisingly close to lining up his own deal to get works HRC Honda Fireblades in 2007 after he bagged enough personal sponsorship to fund the bikes. But he has surprised BSB’s top men by switching instead to ride the relatively unproven ZX-10R.

The 34-year-old star says he is massively motivated to have the bike tailored to him and to be the sole focus of the team.

He also states just how determined he is to show the form that took him to a string of BSB wins.

The MSS team, run by Nick Morgan, will have a direct line to Japan for development information and parts.

But the plan is to still do most of the advancement of the bike itself – just as it has in Supersport with the ZX-6R.