Excellently-named Storm Stacey will become the youngest Bennetts British Superbike rider in history when he lines up for the GR Motosport Kawasaki team in April.

Stacey will be 16 years, 11 months and 19 days when the lights go out at Silverstone at Easter and has had to get special dispensation from the ACU - via series chief Stuart Higgs - to make the move.

“This is really exciting for me – I am still only 16 and I am going to be riding a Superbike in BSB this year! I cannot thank the team and everyone enough who has supported me so far in my career because without them I would not have this opportunity this year,” said Stacey.

“As a team we had looked at Superstock 1000, but after some laps to get a feel for it at both Donington Park and Jerez it felt really natural straight away and I was able to post some good times despite it being my first test.

“The team then wanted to give me this chance on the Superbike and I can’t wait to get started. The way I look at it is it will be a big learning curve but I got inspiration from Ryan Vickers, who moved from the Superstock 600 to the Superbike last year.

“It’s a more powerful bike with no traction control, but I am sure it will feel like second nature to me after the first round of tests. It will take me some time but there is no pressure on me and I love to learn the bike and understand it. That was what I did last year in the Superstock 600 class and we were fighting for the title at the final round!

I have been getting myself in gear ready for testing and this new challenge and I am really looking forward to having this chance to prove myself on the Superbike gradually over the season.”

Stacey has progressed through the support class championships, finishing in third place in the British Motostar Moto3 GP Championship in 2017 and 2018 as well as competing in the British Talent Cup before joining the GR Motorsport team last year to move into the Pirelli National Superstock 600 class.

In only his first season on board the 600cc machine he fought his way into title contention before finishing third in the overall standings at the end of last year’s campaign, claiming a double race win at Oulton Park and a further two podium finishes.