Paul Bird Kawasaki will run under the Rapid Solicitors banner for the 2012 British Superbike Championship, giving rise to speculation over whether Phil Jessopp has withdrawn his Ducati team from the series and lots of jokes about legal eagles flying high with Bird (we're here all week...)

Rapid backed Jessopp's squad last year as well as being a series sponsor and now Bird, who isn't usually short of a sponsor or two, has their colours on his two factory Kawasaki ZX-10Rs. The team's Metzeler National Superstock 1000 rider Keith Farmer will also run in the Rapid Solicitors Kawasaki livery.

"We are delighted to welcome Rapid Solicitors to our team and we hope it will be a long and successful association. We're coming back to BSB for one reason and that's to win. I have signed the two riders we wanted, I'm using the bikes we wanted and now we have an important sponsor on board, it just gets better! I'm sure Rapid Solicitors Kawasaki will be a major force in next season's championship but it will be tough and we're under no illusions," said Bird.

Phil Jessopp is currently in Macau enjoying Michael Rutter's qualifying domination where he and team-mate Martin Jessopp are back in their Riders Ducati colours.