Scott Redding will announce his future via Instagram tomorrow and is expected to reveal a contract with the Be Wiser Ducati Bennetts British Superbike squad, owned by Cumbrian chicken baron Paul Bird.

This will not necessarily be seen as a marriage made in heaven as Redding would certainly not be coming back to the domestic series if he could get a decent deal on the world scene. But Bird, together with  promoters MSVR, are anxious for a rider of star quality to replace injured Shane Byrne, thought unlikely to return, and rising star Jake Dixon, departing for Moto2.

Redding certainly has the capability to fill that gap. But as others have found, British Superbikes is not an easy ride, whatever might have been achieved elsewhere. Tracks like Cadwell Park and Knockhill, unknown to Redding, plus different tyre manufacturer and little in the way of electronics will take a bit of getting used to.

On the plus side, he is undoubtedly a first-class rider desperate to get his mojo back after an indifferent time MotoGP. Indeed he has said that he wants to start enjoying racing again and he'll only start doing that if he's standing on one of those three podium steps, preferably the top one. But with five meetings between Assen, Donington and Silverstone, tracks he is very familiar with, there is every chance.

It should also be remembered that ten years ago Redding, then a mere 15 years old, became the youngest rider to win a MotoGP in the 125cc race at Donington Park. And ever since he has been competing, and winning, with the likes of Marquez, Iannone, Bautista and others in Moto2 and MotoGP.

Other positives? The Be Wiser team will have  the new V-four Ducati which, if they get it right quickly enough, should be a winner. Testing starts next month. And Redding appears to quite like wet tracks conditions, as our summers are likely to return to normal next year, should be  an advantage.

But even more intriguing than the possibility of Redding lining up at Silverstone for the 329 opener is who will be in the other half of the garage as the Irwin brothers will be elsewhere. Discussions have taken place with, among others, Josh Brookes, unhappy with his present team after a series of engine blowups more or less ruled out his chances of repeating his 2015 Championship win.

Brookes and Bird have not always seen eye to eye but stranger things have happened. And he is a winner.