Byrne and Easton sign for Paul Bird

PAUL BIRD Motorsport have announced their 'dream team' as Shane Byrne and Stuart Easton line-up for the teams return to the British Superbike championship.

Returning to the domestic series after four seasons in World Superbikes, PBM Kawasaki will field two-time BSB champion Byrne and former BSS champion Easton, on a pair of factory Kawasaki ZX-10Rs.

Byrne switches to the team that he won the championship with in 2003 on the Monstermob Ducati and last rode for in 2007 on the Eddie Stobart Hondas, after one season with the factory HM Plant team.

Easton is another rider with history with the Paul Bird owned squad, having raced 125s and 250s for the team in the early part of his career and winning the British Supersport championship on the Monstermob Ducati 748 in 2002.

Shane Byrne said: "It's a bit like coming home as this will be the third time I'll have ridden for Paul and it's quite funny as you spend five minutes with the team and it's as if you've never been away! The team always puts out competitive bikes and the Kawasaki will be a major threat I reckon. You know Paul wouldn't be coming back to BSB if he didn't think he could win it so I think we'll have a real good shot at the title."

Easton will make his comeback to racing after being sidelined by a horrific at this year's NW200, the Scot said: "My injuries are healing well and everything should be sorted in time for me to start testing with the team as planned. It's great to be back with PBM and I appreciate the support they have given me this year whilst I was out. We have enjoyed so much success together in the past, I'm really looking forward to this challenge and if we can replicate that it will be great."

Team owner, Paul Bird added: "When we decided to return to British Superbikes, signing both Shakey and Stuart was always the plan and I'm delighted they've come on board with us. We've won British championships as well as World championship races together and for me it's my dream team. We have proved that the Kawasaki ZX-10R is a fantastic bike and have won on it at BSB in 2010 so we know what we need to do. I promised Stuart a deal straight after his crash and he'll be back to full fitness very soon and with Shakey keen to make up for missing out this year, we are ideally placed."

The press release also alluded to the outfit's 'ambitious plan' to field a Claiming Rule Team in MotoGP next season. PBM announced that they will run James Ellison in the premier class, on an Aprilia RSV4-powered bike.

The 2012 BSB championship starts at Brands Hatch on the Easter Bank Holiday weekend in April. Click here for the 2012 British Superbike calendar.