Superbike rider and Crash.net Columnist, Michael Laverty has signed for the TAS Suzuki team to race in the British Supersport Championship.

2006 has been a good development year for the factory backed team, with nine podium finishes under their belts and Team Manager Philip Neill is confident they will pick up where they have left off for 2007.

Although Laverty is only 24 years old he has considerable experience having ridden in both the Supersport and Superbike classes over the past four seasons with many victories and podiums to his credit.

“I'm more than happy to be sorted so early into the off-season and it didn't take a lot to convince me that TAS Suzuki were the right team with the best package,” said Laverty, “They have proved their pedigree in British Supersport as championship contenders, and my obvious goal is to help them win the title in 2007.”

Laverty is keen to get back into British Superbikes in the longer term and that is part of his deal with TAS, “I have discussed a two–year package with Philip Neill, which could see us move up to Superbike in 2008. I have plenty of Supersport experience and without knowing who the competition will be in 2007, I'm already confident of immediate success. Being an Irish team and having a direct link with the factory is one of the key reasons why I signed and I certainly don't feel that it is a step back in any way,” he said.

Neill is thrilled to have signed Laverty saying, “I am delighted to have signed Michael Laverty for 2007 as I have always been a strong believer in his ability. He rode for us at the Sunflower Trophy back in 2003 and it was immediately apparent that the kid had tremendous talent on a motorcycle. This has given me great motivation for the 2007 season in the British Supersport championship and I believe that Michael's style and structure are very well suited to the 600 class. I now feel that we have a very strong package combining TAS Suzuki, Michael Laverty and the GSX–R600, and it is a great compliment – with so much deliberation still going on – that Michael has chosen to sign for TAS.”

The team are already scheduled to start their winter testing programme which could kick-off in South Africa as early as December. Having ridden for a privateer team last season in British Superbikes, Laverty is already fired up at the opportunity of riding for the factory backed TAS Suzuki team on the GSX–R600.

As well as short circuit racing the TAS team will make a full assault on the pure roads, signing both Bruce Anstey and Adrian Archibald for the three international road racing events in 2007.