Former MotoGP and World Supersport racer Anthony West has joined the increasingly international rider line-up in British Superbikes by signing for the new Supersonic BMW team.

After losing his CRT MotoGP slot due to lack of funds and missing out on a place in the Swan Yamaha team replacing the injured Ian Hutchinson, West finally signed for Danilo Soncini's team - itself new to the championship. He will be joined by Swiss rider Patric Muff.

"It has been a difficult couple of weeks for me; I obviously lost the ride in MotoGP and before then I hadn't looked outside of that paddock. I looked at what John (Hopkins) had done by racing in BSB last year and I thought it could be a good move for me," said West.

"I don't know a lot of the tracks, but I have experience of learning fast from the different championships I have raced in before. It will also be a new experience riding the BMW Superbike so it is exciting for me; the competition this year looks like it will be the best it has ever been in BSB so it will be a new challenge. My fans have been a great support to me and it was also their reaction of wanting to see me race in BSB that pushed me to continue my racing career."