GSE Racing will remain in British Superbikes next season but have made a shock switch to Yamaha, leaving behind long-time partners Ducati. The deal was finalised on Sunday team boss Coin Wright telling his riders that day.
It will be the first time that GSE Racing has built bikes from the ground up as their Ducatis have always come out of the crate, ready to race. However, the deal with Yamaha means GSE will work closely with the Yamaha Italia (formerly Belgarda) World Superbike team, making race bikes from production bikes.
Team boss Colin Wright said: "We will have to take the lights and indicators off the same as everyone else but we've got a decent-sized toolkit so I think we will be ok.
"The whole thing started with a conversation I had with Bozzy (Yamaha Race manager Nigel Bosworth) at Snetterton and it went from there. It's a three-year deal so it provides us as a team with security and stability. We had a great relationship with Ducati but it was always one year to the next.
Wright also said it is now his main priority to keep his current riders Shne Byrne and Leon Camier for 2009 season. "I won't be talking to any other riders until I know the position with Shane and Leon."
Yamaha Managing Director, Andrew Smith, added: “We are delighted to be partnering GSE Racing, the UK’s most successful race team, and together I am confident we can successfully build a long term relationship both on and off the race track.”
Where this leaves Rob McElnea and his squad is anyone's guess. McElnea is rumoured to have re-signed Karl Harris on a year's contract and to be in talks with Jon Kirkham to ride a second R1 Superbike.
It could also pave the way for NW200 Ducati to becoming the official factory Ducati team in British Superbikes, or leave the door open for another team rumoured to be looking to make a return to the series.