Kent racer Tom Ward will replace Gino Rea at Bike Devil Kawasaki for the remainder of the 2020 Bennetts British Superbike season, starting this weekend at Snetterton.

Rea split from the team yesterday and team boss Dave Tyson has opted to employ a new rider strategy for this season, following in the footsteps of Lee Hardy to bring a youngster on board.

“I have watched what Lee has done with Jake Dixon and Ryan Vickers and have decided to do the same - finding a good youngster and give him a platform on which to build,” Tyson told bikesportnews.com this morning.

“I asked a few questions about Tom and got the answers I was looking for, so have offered him a ride on a bike that is almost exactly the same as Leon Haslam won the 2018 title on, bought from Bournemouth Kawasaki, so thanks to Pete Extance for his help.

“Tom has demonstrated his pace in testing abroad and doesn’t use much traction control on the Superstock bike he was due to use before MSS was forced to pull out due to another sponsor issue, so I think he will adapt well to the Superbike.”

It will be Ward's debut weekend in the blue riband class after being a podium finisher in the Pirelli National Superstock 1000 Championship previously.

“I am really excited for this opportunity as I have always been part of my own team and so everything was always down to me to improve," he said.

"To be able to work with a full team and with Pete Jennings as a crew chief is a big opportunity for me. I haven’t ridden since March so I am under no illusions that it will be a big learning weekend especially as I have never tested a Superbike, but this is a great chance and when one door closes another opens. I can’t wait to get started.”