Michael Laverty joins Hill at Swan Yamaha

Michael Laverty will join Tommy Hill in Shaun Muir’s new-look Swan Yamaha team for the 2011 BSB season.

The team will have factory Yamaha R1s and Laverty told MCN: “I genuinely thought I’d be staying with the TAS team I rode for this year.

"Originally I talked with Shaun about Hondas and was interested because I knew how good the bikes and the team were, but the news of him getting factory Yamahas changed everything for me.

“We all know that the WSB bikes are a step up from what we race in BSB – and we’re getting WSB-spec equipment so we’ll have the best bikes out there.”

This year Laverty made the six-rider Showdown for the BSB title and finished fourth.

Many expected him to remain with the Relentless by TAS Suzuki team but Laverty said: “I had a good relationship with Philip and the boys – and still do – and it was tough to move from a team I felt so comfortable with.

"But when I weighed everything up, it didn’t seem like I was taking a big risk or anything.”

Full story in today’s MCN (Wednesday, November 24).