Reigning Metzeler National Superstock Champion Richard Cooper looks set to team up with British Superbike regular Tom Tunstall in a squad run by the Jentin outfit if meetings at a trade show were anything to go by.

Cooper and Tunstall were observed in a protracted conversation with Jentin boss Bernie Toleman, who has been extra quiet over the winter, at Motorcycle Expo yesterday. It is believed the pair are going to be on a brace of Ducati Panigales.

The rumour mill has had these two in the same team for a couple of weeks and the only piece of the jigsaw missing was former GSE Racing crew chief John Hackett. His JHP performance outfit is thought to be in the mix as the link to getting the much-needed Panigale bikes on time for pre-season testing. Not easy aa Moto Rapido have already bagged the only two that are being factory-prepared.