Rumour currently smoking its way around the World Superbike paddock is that Francis Batta's Alstare team could be considering a move to BSB in 2014 after failing to secure a deal with Aprilia to remain on the world stage.

It is believed that Batta had tried to put together a two-bike outfit with Eugene Laverty and Ayrton Badovini - but the new eight-engine rule has increased the cost of racing an RSV4 out of his budget.

Batta could well bring Badovini into the MCE British Superbike series with its relatively lower costs but on what machinery is yet to be established…