British Supersport star Ian Lowry will move up to partner Atsushi Watanabe in the Relentless Suzuki British Superbike squad in 2009.

The young Irishman replaces Michael Laverty in the team for next season and it is not clear yet here Laverty will land. He is thought to be in talks with Hydrex Honda and a new Kawasaki team that is waiting in the wings.

Lowry underachieved this season after a stunning 2007 but will now want to emulate Tom Sykes, Cal Crutchlow and Leon Camier by moving up from the middleweight class to fight it out with the big boys.

Cameron Donald will campaign the team's Superstock bike and will continue with his roads programme while BJ Toal moves into Lowry's GSX-R600 seat after impressing team boss Philip Neill with his ride at the Sunflower Trophy.