Richards joins Hydrex Honda.

Glen Richards will ride a Honda in the British Superbike championship in 2006 after it was announced that he has signed for the Shaun Muir Racing-run Hydrex Honda outfit.

Richards, who joins from Hawk Kawasaki with whom he finished fifth in the 2005 standings, was delighted to have signed for the Guisborough-based outfit and is already looking forward to a season of podium finishes.

"It's great news, I'm really pleased," he said. "Obviously it will be a bit of a change jumping from the Kawasaki, which I've raced for the past four years, to the Honda but I know it won't be a problem. The championship is one of the most competitive in the world and I can't wait to get back to racing next year with Hydrex Honda."

The team, headed up by former Superbike racer Shaun Muir, contested its inaugural season this year with Steve Plater and is delighted to have signed Richards for its 2006 campaign.

"Next year we want to consolidate all the hard work and effort put in this year, which culminated in a fantastic third place finish at the final round at Brands," said Muir. "I'm delighted to have Glen on board, he is a class rider and brings with him a wealth of experience which I'm sure will take the team to the next level."

Meanwhile, SMR also welcomes another new face to the Hydrex Honda squad; team manager Guy Davies. Davies joins from the Virgin Mobile Samsung British Superbike team where he has worked alongside Rob McElnea for the past six-years as team co-ordinator.