Former MotoGP rider Chris Burns will not be racing at the British Superbike season opener at Brands Hatch this weekend as it is believed his MV Agustas will not be ready in time.

The STP-JHS Motorsport team have withdrawn because neither Burns or team-mate Victor Cox have had any opportunity to test the bikes and team boss Jon Strike says that is an unacceptable risk.
Talking to the Sunday Sun, Burns said: "It's been a tough week as rumours were flying all over the place that we weren't going to be out this weekend, and people were contacting me and my friends asking if it was true.

"Then at teatime yesterday I was told by Jon that we weren't going to run this weekend. Now I just don't know what to think. The team say they hope to race at the next round at Oulton Park, but I'm concerned that by missing out on the opening round, that's the championship gone for us."
“The decision not to attend the opening round of the season is one that we have given much thought to and it is a decision that was made for one reason and one reason only, rider safety," said Strike.

"Delays in developing the bike have resulted in the team being in a position of having to turn up at Brands Hatch, with a bike that had been completely rebuilt from last season, without the benefit of any track time. In these circumstances asking Chris and Victor to get on the bike and try to post fast qualifying laps would be an unacceptable risk.

"We have left the decision as late as possible as we had hoped to get some track time in this week, but this is now not going to be possible so we are left with no option but to delay the start o four season until Oulton Park.”