Bike Devil swaps from Ducati to Kawasaki for 2020 BSB season

The Bike Devil Racing team has confirmed it will be swapping its original plan to run a Ducati Panigale V4 R in favour of a Kawasaki ZX-10R entry for the 2020 British Superbike Championship season.

After a handful of exploratory outings during the second-half of 2019 with the ageing MV Agusta F4, Bike Devil Racing confirmed it would go full-time in 2020 with a single Ducati Panigale V4 R entry in BSB, plus a two-man MV Agusta F3 effort in British Supersport.

However, those plans have been put on hold for now after the team instead revealed its distinctive yellow livery on a Kawasaki ZX-10R, which will be campaigned by former WorldSSP race winner and Moto2 podium winner Gino Rea.

The team says the current situation around COVID-19 and specifically for it getting delivery of machinery and parts from Italy complicated matters, prompting it to turn to the UK-sourced Kawasaki instead. 

After a delay of four months, the start of the rescheduled 2020 BSB season is now getting closer with August 7-9 to herald the curtain raising opener at Donington Park.

Meanwhile, road racer and Irish Superbike champion Barry McCormick has become a late entry to the 2020 BSB grid after landing a deal to ride a BMW S1000RR with the new Roadhouse Macau by ON1 Racing team.

“I’m both delighted and excited about this opportunity to get back on the BSB grid as it’s been 12 years since I raced there last and the quality of the field of riders is outstanding. With the team I have this year, the sponsors I have behind me and the group of people providing race support, we are going to go enjoy it and put in a good effort.”