Brookes, Bridewell confirmed at Milwaukee Yamaha

Josh Brookes and Tommy Bridewell will form Milwaukee Yamaha's 2014 MCE British Superbike line-up, it has been confirmed.

Australian Brookes, who has won 16 races and never finished outside the overall top five in five seasons of BSB racing, joins Milwaukee Yamaha after three seasons with the TAS Racing-run Tyco Suzuki team.

A runner-up in 2010 and 2012, Brookes is hoping a switch to Yamaha machinery will yield an elusive maiden BSB title.

"Three years with any team is fairly long so this is a good time for a change, and I believe Milwaukee Yamaha has a package capable of winning the championship.

"I have never ridden a Yamaha before but I know that when Leon [Camier] rode the bike and won the title he spoke very highly of it and I have been a rival to it for a long time and it appears to be a really strong bike!

"Shaun [Muir] wanted me to be a part of the team and seems really excited about the prospect of working together next season and that makes me look forward to returning again next year with this different opportunity."

Bridewell's signing comes after he joined Milwaukee during the closing stages of 2013, the Devizes rider making his pitch for a full-time berth by claiming three podiums in the final three rounds.

"I am really looking forward to next season already and this is a great opportunity for me and one that I have worked so hard for many years to try and achieve," Bridewell, who was a Title Showdown contender in 2012, said. "I am in a fortunate position where I have three rounds under my belt already so I intend on using that to my advantage.

"I have a great bond with the crew and this year I upped my game and now I want to keep that momentum going. We know that the Milwaukee Yamaha package is capable of winning races so that is what we want to concentrate on from the start.

"It is great for me to be able to work with Josh too because I think we are quite similar and I think we can push each other. I ticked off one of my ambitions this year with a double podium finish; now I am ready to fight for wins!"

James Ellison, who won races on the way to fourth overall for Milwaukee Yamaha this season, has signed for GBmoto Kawasaki, while Josh Waters - who was replaced by Bridewell for the final three events - joins John Hopkins at Tyco Suzuki.