PBM have completed their rider line-up for the MCE British Superbike Championship for 2016, with Glenn Irwin joining Shane Byrne in the Paul Bird garage, but the team have changed manufacturers from Kawasaki to Ducati for next season.

Irwin will make the step up from the Motorpoint British Supersport Championship. The Carrickfergus based racer is a triple Irish champion and former British Supersport Cup champion and currently occupies third place in this year’s British Supersport title race.

Both Byrne and Irwin will race under the Be Wiser banner following the recent association between the leading insurance brand and Paul Bird’s team. The deal sees a multi-year association with the nine-times British and National champions who have also sampled victories at World Superbike level.

The machinery that the team will use is the fully factory-supported Ducati Panigale R. The team will waste no time in getting up to speed as they test in Valencia immediately after Brands Hatch with a heavy winter testing schedule thereafter in preparation for the 2016 BSB season which gets underway at Silverstone in April.

“2016 will be our 21st consecutive year in racing and we are the first team to confirm our line-up for next season, which demonstrates our intention of challenging for the MCE BSB championship,” said Paul Bird.

“In Shakey we have the most successful rider in the history of the series and we know he’ll be very competitive. Glenn is a rider I’ve had my eye on for a while and is a huge talent so now is the time to step up to a Superbike and I’ve every confidence in his ability.

“It’s fantastic to have a reputable company like Be Wiser Insurance as our title sponsor as the brand fits perfectly with our team and it’s a long-term association like most of our sponsors in the past. It’s also great to be back working with the Ducati factory which will see us reunited with the brand which gave us most of our early successes.

“It’s an honour to be entrusted to deliver the results as a factory-backed team, which we aim to do. We are pleased to also welcome Hager back as sponsors for 2016 too.”

Tim Maccabee, Managing Director, Ducati UK said: “We are delighted to be associated with Paul Bird and his team and very excited about the 2016 MCE BSB season. Ducati has an unparalleled history in Superbike racing and this next chapter is one we are looking forward to given the success PBM have had in the sport.

“We have received very positive support from Ducati Corse about this project and look forward to a successful season with Shakey, Glenn and the rest of the PBM team.”