Effenbert Liberty Racing has dropped the clearest hint yet that it is on the verge of returning to the World Superbike Championship with BMW machinery.
The Czech team has been the subject of speculation throughout the off-season after curtailing a troubled 2012 campaign early in the wake of various controversies, not least the release of its three riders – Sylvain Guintoli, Jakub Smrz and Maxime Berger - over the course of the season.
However, while rumours suggested it would enter a single BMW for 2013 were initially unfounded when no entry was listed ahead of the opening round at Phillip Island, Effenbert Liberty has since unveiled an updated official website with a countdown to the next
WSBK round at Motorland Aragon in just over a month's time.
Furthermore, it has posted a rendering of a BMW S1000RR in Effenbert colours, with a line suggesting its plans will be officially unveiled in the next few days.
Lorenzo Lanzi, who competed with the team in the final rounds of 2012, has been linked with the burgeoning project, but Brett McCormick – who scored a top five finish at Portimao - has confirmed on his
Facebook page that he will not be competing in 2013.