Rapid Solicitors announced as PBM title sponsor

Rapid Solicitors will switch its title sponsorship from Bathams Ducati to the returning Paul Bird Motorsport (PBM) team for the 2012 British Superbike Championship.

Multiple British champions PBM have signed double BSB champion Shane 'Shakey' Byrne and former British Supersport champion Stuart Easton to ride factory specification Kawasaki ZX-10Rs next season.

The new sponsorship deal will see Byrne, Easton and Superstock 1000 rider Keith Farmer race under the 'Rapid Solicitors Kawasaki' banner.

"This isn't merely a jolly for me; we need clients to appreciate our investment in the sport by using our services," said Rapid Solicitors Andrew Baldwin. "We need to be in the news and results put you there. I visited the Penrith factory to see the set-up and to meet some of the key people involved in this project.

"I was left in no doubt that this team is determined to entertain and to deliver silverware. Paul Bird readily admits that coming back from World Superbikes, he knows everyone will want to beat his team, but he's ready for the challenge. I admire this kind of courage and starting as one of the favourites for the 2012 championship, will provide added impetus to deliver results."

PBM team owner Paul Bird commented: "We are delighted to welcome Andy and Rapid Solicitors to our team and we hope it will be a long and successful association. We're coming back to BSB for one reason and that's to win. I have signed the two riders we wanted, I'm using the bikes we wanted and now we have an important sponsor on board, it just gets better! I'm sure Rapid Solicitors Kawasaki will be a major force in next season's championship but it will be tough and we're under no illusions."

Additional exposure for Rapid Solicitors will be afforded by means of James Ellison's participation for PBM in next season's MotoGP World Championship as one of the Claiming Rule Teams (CRT) and cross branding in the four wheeled world through Bird's own participation in rally events.