Easton to concentrate on World Supersport.

Stuart Easton, who has been competing in both the British and World Supersport Championships has taken the decision to concentrate on just one championship and as such has opted to make the move to the World paddock on a permanent basis.

He is currently riding for the Lloyd's British Ducati team in the UK and lying third in the championship. Easton feels that the World paddock is where his future lies and at the moment he is finding it difficult jumping from his Lloyd's British machine to his SC Carrachi machine. He has Dunlops and Pirellis to deal with as well as different electronics on each bike, plus he is learning most of the world circuits this season, which is adding to his work load.

Easton first took up the SC Carrachi ride at Monza, when Josh Brookes left the team for a four-cylinder ride. His debut at world level was impressive as he finished sixth first time out on the machine at the high speed Italian circuit of Monza where he had never raced before.

Since then the riggers of competing in back-to-back race weekends on different machinery has taken its toil on the young rider, affecting his confidence and his focus. His Misano race weekend went badly, qualifying last and deciding ultimately not to race, after a weekend like this, it was a very brave decision to take the more difficult route of World Supersport.

The SC Carrachi team are hoping to squeeze in some testing with Easton before the next round at Brno, this will allow him more time on the bike to test out various Pirelli tyres and set-up for his new mount. Turning up at a new circuit with just four practice sessions, two of which are qualifying, trying to set up a new bike while learning the track is a big ask, so hopefully with some testing under his belt and more confidence in his set up, Easton will be back running at the front of the field where his fans are used to seeing him.

Although the Lloyd's British Ducati team are now without a rider, they are completely behind Easton's decision.

?We as a team fully support his decision, which is for him to commit one hundred percent of his time, efforts and energy to proving his ability on the World stage,? read a statement from the squad. ?Therefore, and with immediate effect, Stuart will not be competing in any of the remaining British rounds with Lloyds British Ducati. We would like to thank Stuart for his invaluable contribution to our team during the past few years and would also like to wish him every success with his chosen career path. I would like to add that this has been a mutually agreed decision between Stuart and the team which we feel best serves the interests of all parties concerned.?

The team now have the tough job of finding someone capable of replacing the very talented Scot, who has just vacated the ride: ?Our immediate objective is now to find a suitable replacement rider, who is capable of representing the Lloyds British Ducati Team in the manner to which we have become accustomed, so that we can satisfy the needs and expectations of our partners, sponsors and suppliers for the remainder of the 2006 season.?