STP strengthens MV ties, boosts power.

The STP Motorsport MV Agusta team has received a double boost ahead of this weekend's Knockhill round of the 2008 Bennett's British Superbike Championship.

Rider Chris Burns will have a more powerful engine inside his F4 for the Scottish event, which is expected to bring the machine more in line with its main competitors - especially when combined with some further weight reduction since Oulton Park.

"After a disappointing weekend at Oulton Park I am really looking forward to getting back in the groove at Knockhill," said Burns, currently fifth in the BSB Cup Championship. "It is a circuit that I like and my results in the past reflect this.

"To go there with the MV Agusta with the latest developments coming on stream will be an added bonus. Adding power and removing some of the excess weight from the stock bike will certainly make my life easier and hopefully will give me the opportunity to challenge for a podium position in the Cup race," he declared.

"We are happy with our progress so far on a small budget and I will be watching very closely this weekend how the first stages of our engine modifications go... I expect it will be positive!" said team principal Jon Strike. "After this weekend, we will continue development with the engine and the electronics to improve the bike's acceleration out of corners."

Meanwhile, there are exciting developments off track, with the STP team having strengthened its relationship with the MV Agusta factory, following in-depth talks with senior management and technical staff.

Team owners Strike and Simon Woods were joined by team manager Warwick Nowland and crew chief Paul Snell at the Varese factory, where specific plans were initiated to combine the Italian brand with the English team for 2009 and beyond. With Harley Davidson now purchasing MV Agusta, exciting changes are expected.

"After our meeting at the factory it was reassuring to know that MV Agusta is recognising what we are achieving here in BSB," said Strike. "The new co-operation is starting immediately with input from MV Agusta's engineers on weight reduction and engine modifications that will be tested and in place by the time we get to Cadwell Park."