James Ellison has secured a ride in the British Superbikes Championship for 2010 after signing with the Swan Honda team to form arguably the strongest rider line-up in the championship with Stuart Easton.
After finishing the season as runner up last year, Ellison was left without a ride for 2010 after GSE Racing pulled out of the championship due to lack of funds but Swan Honda team manager Shaun Muir has managed to find a place for the 29-year-old at the team that he left in 2008 to join GSE Racing.
“I’m so grateful to Shaun Muir and SMR for giving me the opportunity to race in BSB this year,” said Ellison. “I know the whole Swan Honda team have pulled out all the stops to give me this chance to fight for the title. It’s been a very difficult winter not knowing if I would be racing, as I was left in a really difficult position at the end of 2009. I knew that if I had any chance of winning the championship it was with this team, so my first phone call was to Shaun when I was left without a ride.
“The team was strong when I was with them in 2008, but they have moved on so much since then. This is all down to their work ethic and solid team structure, which is exactly what I need to go one better in the championship this year. I class the team as family and I know the Honda like the back of my hand, so I’m confident we will be strong out of the gates and I am really looking forward to working with my old crew chief Mick Shanley again. I want to thank my fans, friends, family and my wife Sarah for standing by me and always believing in me; I promise I won’t let you down this year.”