Stuart Easton has signed to ride with the Bathams SMT BMW team and will compete alongside Michael Rutter in the Pirelli National Superstock series in the last three rounds of the championship and at the Macau Grand Prix.

Easton split with the ePayMe Yamaha squad after Thruxton but was already in place to ride for Robin Croft’s team at the Macau Grand Prix, so he will get some much needed bike time before the November meeting in the far east. Easton's pairing with Rutter in the former Portugese colony will be a tough team to beat.

“Having had the Superbike deal in place with the team since last year’s Macau Grand Prix, I’ve kept in regular contact with Robin and the team and having split with the BSB Yamaha team, Robin rang me up and asked me if I fancied riding a Superstock bike alongside Michael Rutter for the final three rounds of the Championship,” said Easton.

“I need miles under my belt before Macau and I also need to get used to a BMW as I’ve never ridden one before so with the final three rounds being at three of my favourite circuits, it’s an ideal opportunity for me. I’ve kept my eye on what Michael’s been doing in the Superstock class so when Robin put forward the opportunity, I thought it could be really good for me and help put the smile back on my face.”