Sources close to the Paul Bird Kawasaki World Superbike team have confirmed that Tom Sykes has signed with the squad and will partner MotoGP ejectee Chris Vermeulen next season.

It's quite a surprise move on both sides after their somewhat acrimonious split at the end of the 2007 British Superbike season when both Sykes and Shane Byrne left the Stobart Honda team under a cloud.

However, Sykes has proven he is capable of top-five finishes this season and Bird needs a couple of top-flight riders in his team to make up for what has been a lacklustre season so far.

At the moment, Bird is at Oulton Park, where phone reception is pony.