Ian Hutchinson will make up for the disappointment of not racing in this year’s Isle of Man TT with a full season in the MCE British Superbike Championship in a brand new Yamaha squad.

The nine-times winner, who has been frozen out of the TT due to technical rule changes, will do a full BSB season for the first time in his career in the new FFX team. FFX is supported by Shaun Muir Racing, the team behind Milwaukee Yamaha, Hutchinson’s existing roads squad.

The squad, which will be a satellite to Milwaukee, has been put together by ex-SMR employee Gary Ekerold and backed by FFX, one of the country’s leading tool suppliers.

“I have been aiming to race in the championship for several years and I had the chance a few seasons ago but I had setbacks with my injury so this feels like a big opportunity for me. This whole season means a lot to me personally because I have done a couple of rounds before but never a whole championship and I am excited that we have the chance to learn and progress throughout the year,” said Hutchinson.

“MCE BSB is the highest level of racing in Britain and I have my own targets and ambitions but I am going to take it as it comes because we know we have a well-developed bike with the Yamaha and that should make my first season an easier scenario.

“I have been building on making my return to racing and that has made me more determined for sure. I have learnt a lot in the past three years and have matured as a rider although I wasn’t racing as much so I want to make this count. I want to thank everyone involved with the FFX Yamaha team and the project for giving me this chance.”

For more on this story, see the new issue of Bikesport News, out Thursday