Brookes signs for 'new' Honda backed Bertocchi.

Josh Brookes has re-signed with Team Bertocchi for the 2007 Superbike World Championship - for which the team will be restructured, with new owners and financial partners, and switch from Kawasaki to Honda machinery.

The team will continue to be managed by Sergio Bertocchi, but be renamed 'Alto Evolution - Team Bertocchi' and see Brookes - who started this season in World Supersport with Ducati before switching to the premier SBK class with Bertocchi from Silverstone onwards - back on a Honda Fireblade, the machinery with which he won the 2005 Australian Superbike Championship.

"I am just so wrapped to have this deal," said Josh. "I have been talking to a number of teams for the last few months who have been interested but have always required me to bring dollars to the table. With Alto Evolution, all they wanted was me and my will to win. Sergio Bertocchi showed faith in me when it all went bad with Ducati earlier in the year, and has never once doubted me or my ability. Even when things were really bad, he believed in me. Now, with the new owners and good finances, I hope to repay the team's faith and Honda's by getting some good results in 2007.

"The Fireblade is my favourite bike, I just loved riding it in the Suzuka 8 Hour this year where I came 7th, and cannot wait to get back onto it," he continued. "The Team is building everything around me, exactly what I think I need for success, and together I am sure that 2007 will be a great year, especially as I now know the tracks and know how to live in Europe. I really must thank Honda Australia for their constant support throughout this year, and into next year of course, where they will be continuing to help me. HRC Japan have been fantastic too with support for this, as well as Honda Europe."

Brookes will complete his first season with Team Bertocchi this weekend at the final round in Magny-Cours, before immediately testing with the Honda CBR1000RR Fireblade for 2007.