New Zealand rider Shane Richardson will move up to the Pirelli National Superstock 1000 series in 2020 with the Astro-JJR team which has received backing from Carl Cox Motorsport for next year.

The squad, which will also have Damon Rees as a second rider, will campaign a brace of new BMW S1000RRs in the series and are hoping to make the Kiwis fly.

"We are absolutely delighted to announce the retention of Shane for the 2020 season with plans to move up to the BMW S1000RR," said team chief Stuart Tromans.

"While we had options with all four main manufacturers it was the BMW that offered the best machinery and the most professional support network.

"Shane was so unlucky not to move up as Superstock 600 Champion having had a brilliant year with the team, just failing at the final round thanks to a minor technical issue.

"Damon is from superb Kiwi racing stock with a family lineage that really puts him in the mix coming to the UK to continue the Antipodean invasion.

"With the team finishing fourth in Superstock 1000 with Alex Olsen in 2018 and fantastic support from BMW especially from Hicky, Daz, Rebecca, Pete and all at Smiths Racing with whom we will look to build the link again with in 2020."