Colourful British Superbike star Tommy Bridwell will replace the departed Anthony West in the Supersonic BMW team at this weekend's season opener at Brands Hatch after signing a deal for the team late yesterday afternoon.

The Devizes swearbox is run with the Italian-based team for this round and the following weekend at Thruxton after which both sides will review the arrangement. It marks a return to circuits for Bridewell who has spent the winter racing motocross both in the UK and abroad.

"I did a lot of work to try and arrange road racing for this year but it didn't come together so I have made motocross my life. I went to the States to race and did well but managed to bang myself up a bit. I was contemplating entering the British Championship for a few round this year as I've really got into it and got some pace," said Bridewell, speaking to bikesportnews.com this evening.

"But I got a call from the Supersonic team to see if I would be able to race at Brands and Thrxuton, so of course I jumped at it. We're going to treat the first round as a test as I haven't ridden the bike and it has only just had all its Motec kit put on, then we will go to Thruxton and see what happens.

"To mind my mind, the BMW has been the bike to beat in Superstock trim so the new BSB rules really should suit it. I'm not going to stand there and say we can finish top five because that would be ridiculous but I have kept myself very fit over the winter and am ready to go on Friday."