Former Milwaukee Aprilia team boss Mick Shanley will go back to his roots in 2018 as he becomes crew chief for the to-be-confirmed second rider in the Red Bull Honda WorldSBK team.

Shanley split with Shaun Muir's Aprilia outfit after the Magny-Cours round this year and immediately began his own business, MSRD, before getting a phone call from Ronald Ten Kate inquiring whether he would be available to join the Holland-based team in time for January testing.

"Ten Kate are doing a lot of things differently next year and I will go over as crew chief to whichever rider signs up for the bike alongside Leon," Shanley told bikesportnews.com.

"It will be interesting to get involved in the development of the bike from the world go and we're set for the next set of winter tests. I will be able to combine that with the new business, which is based around helping current race teams with their setup and data, and also helping to set up new teams."