Paul Bird flew out of Brands Hatch for a holiday in Barbados happy that he had sorted his racing plans for next season. The Cumbrian multi-millionaire confirmed that he will continue to run a two rider team in MCE British Superbikes and a two-rider team in MotoGP.

Bird finalised his plans in the pit-lane at the Kent circuit where he oversaw the behind the scenes work to speed Shane Byrne and his Rapid Solicitors Kawasaki to the British crown. The third for the rider and also the third for Bird’s highly- professional equipe.

After a couple of days of indecision, with everything seemingly in the balance Bird confirmed his plans on raceday morning.

“I shook hands on a deal with Andy (Baldwin) of Rapid Solicitors to continue their sponsorship with the team next season so we will be in BSB with two Superbikes and in all probability we will run with Kawasaki again – that would be sensible,” said the chicken magnate.

Bird would not be drawn on who the riders would be. “I’ve still to confirm them but it will not be problem will it – the best team, the best bikes!

“I’m quite excited about it all now – I feel that I am wanted here and in MotoGP, not like it was in World Superbikes.  In BSB Stuart (Higgs, the series director) does everything to make you want to race here. And MotoGP want us.

“We will run two riders in MotoGP and that is well underway now. We have a new chassis being manufactured for us and that should be ready in November.  I wanted to run two British riders, but it may be that I have to run a rider of Dorna’s choice.

“There will 100 per cent be one British rider in the team but maybe it is out of my hands with the other – Dorna want us, they’ve upped the funding for us.  Obviously we have done a job for them - our reliability has been good even if our results have not been the best.”

16-page BSB special in the new issue of Bikesport News, out tomorrow