Brookes joins Kawasaki Bertocchi.

Former SC Carrachi Ducati World Supersport rider, Josh Brookes, will switch to the premier World Superbike class from Silverstone onwards after signing for the Kawasaki Bertocchi team.

After dual 2005 title winning success on four-cylinder Honda machinery in his native Australia, Brookes struggled to adapt to Ducati's 749 v-twin in the early rounds of the 2006 WSS championship, but is now looking forward to rebuilding his international career on a Ninja ZX10R.

"It has been quite a ride," confessed Josh, who won as a WSS wild-card at Phillip Island in 2004. "It was difficult to leave Ducati, because the guys were great, and my life long ambition is to win world championships. To leave a team after only three races really tore me up, but I knew it was the best thing for everyone concerned. Taking a step back to take a couple forward is hard, but I knew that it would lead to good things, and it has.

"Bertocchi Kawasaki have shown faith in me, and I intend to return their faith with 100% commitment 100% of the time .I am fitter than I have ever been, and maybe just a little bit wiser. I know the bike is fast, and it's a very very good bike, now I've got to get it to be fast with me on it," he declared. "I am totally focused on making the Kawasaki Bertocchi competitive against the best in the field and working closely with the team and Kawasaki to do so, and know with the help and support of the team and Kawasaki, it will happen. SBK is a step up for sure, but I love a challenge!"

To help Brookes adjust to his new machinery before Silverstone, on May 28, he will make his Bertocchi debut in this weekend's round of the Italian SBK championship.

Former MotoGP rider Franco Battaini currently competes for Bertocchi Kawasaki in WSBK, while Briton Stuart Easton has been drafted in to replace Brookes at SC Carrachi.