STP Motorsport are making huge changes to Chris Burns' MV Agusta British Superbike Cup bike in order to give the Newscastle man, and team-mate Victor Cox, a fighting chance.

The squad, which has teamed up with JHS Racing for the 2009 season, is performing major surgery on the iconic bike, changing braking systems, suspension, electronics and engines.

“There is no getting away from it, the MV Agusta F4 1000 was overweight and underpowered last season, and it is a credit to Chris Burns that he achieved the results he did,” says JHS's James Holland.

“My intention is to make the job for both riders this season that much easier. The changes that we are making to the 2008 bikes will be put to test in the next week or so. We are confident that what we have already achieved will make a massive difference to the handling and performance of the bike.

“We are currently about two weeks behind schedule but once we have had the opportunity for a shakedown test we can then start with the main testing programme and these changes can then start to be transferred to the 2009 bikes, which will put us in the favourable position of having two bikes each for Chris and Victor.”