Former Appleyard Yamaha rider Jack Kennedy has signed for the Mar-Train team for a full-on assault on the British Supersport Championship in 2012.

The Irishman rode for the squad at the Sunflower Trophy and reckons he made his mind up there and then. He will be back on a Yamaha R6 next season and hopes to improve on the seven podiums he achieved in an injury-strewn 2011.

"I’m delighted to get it all sorted and I’m very excited at the prospect of working with the Mar-train team. I rode for them at the recent Sunflower Trophy Races at Bishopscourt and that pretty much made my mind up. It was a clear decision," said Kennedy.

"There were three defining factors: I’ll be riding a Yamaha again; Andy Jamison will be my crew chief and in the meetings I’ve already had with Tim – anything the bike needs it will get. They are a new team in the paddock but our goal is to win the championship; that’s the plan.”