'B&G Racing' formed - 2010 Smrz livery revealed.

Jakub Smrz will ride with this livery on his Ducati 1198 for the newly formed B&G Racing team, featuring confectionary firm PATA as title sponsor, during the 2010 World Superbike season.

B&G Racing is an amalgamation of the former Sterilgarda and Guandalini Ducati teams. The 'B' represents former Sterilgarda team manager Marco Borciani, while the 'G' is Guandalini, for whom Smrz rode last season.

Smrz and Guandalini finished tenth in the 2009 WSBK standings with one podium, while Borciani's rider Shane Byrne claimed eighth overall, also with one podium.

Despite rumours of a switch to Aprilia, B&G Racing will stick with Ducati motorcycles - although Borciani admitted RSV4s were considered.

"We'll line up at the start with Ducati to which we're really grateful fo their collaboration despite the rumours about our transfer to Aprilia," said Borciani. "We're a team of professionals and as such we did consider Aprilia's proposal but in the end myself and Mirco decided to remain where both of us achieved our best results."

Mirco Guandalini explained the decision to join forces further.

"After overcoming the difficulties we came across due to the economic crisis in the year 2009, I teamed up with Marco Borciani who shares my views, we joined forces and now we can aim high in the upcoming season and the years to come," he explained.

"We updated the bike so that we could provide our rider a competitive machine which will allow him to repeat last season's results and hopefully improve them. This wouldn't have been possible without the support from our sponsors who trusted us to represent their brands at a world level in 2010 as well."

Dr Marco Gobbi of PATA explained why the company had increased his support to become title sponsor.

"2010 will be the fourth year of collaboration between PATA and the Borciani family," he said. "In the first three years the company gradually implemented its investment strategy but now we decided to become title sponsor of the team.

"Our objective is to use the team and the WSBK to get more visibility for our brand and our products both nationally and internationally.

"From a sporting point of view, the fact that Marco Borciani and Mirco Guandalini joined forces and will race with Ducati is a good opportunity to share their know-how for a better preparation and development of the bike.

"We're pleased that Jakub Smrz is the team's new rider. He scored good results in 2009 and we hope he'll do better in the near future."