James Ellison has signed to stay with the GBmoto Kawasaki and will contest the 2016 MCE British Superbike series with Mark Smith-Halvorsen’s team, using the new-for-next-year ZX-10R.

It will be Kendal native Ellison’s third season with the squad, which is the first time he has stayed with a team for such a long period of time, and he believes that an injury-free season should see him make another series challenge for the title.

“I’m really pleased to be staying for a third season, which is a record for me. I did have some other options as it is getting to that time of year and I did say that I wanted to talk to Mark (Smith-Halvorsen, team boss) and my team first because that was my number one choice and we came to a deal we were both happy with. It was a pretty easy decision,” said Ellison, speaking to bikesportnews.com last night.

“We had a conversation at Cadwell Park which went along of lines of ‘Do you want to stay as we want to keep you’, and I wanted to stay so give me a pen. I am so happy with the work that Mark puts in every year. He is always improving, always looking for the best and next great thing, the testing program is always in place and he constantly strives to do better.

“I love that about the team as they are never stagnant and that’s how I work too, I am always looking for something better with riding, training and life. I am always looking to be faster and they are always working on making the team better. The whole thing really works for me. I have some close sponsors here too, like McAms, and they have been happy too.

“The Kawasaki I am really happy with. I think next year is the time to make some improvments and when they announced a new bike, it was a no-brainer for me, I think it is going to be a weapon. We want to win the championship and the only thing that has let us down in the last two years has been injury but I will be giving it 100 per cent whatever.”