Bird Plans British MotoGp

Paul Bird has told Eurosport plans are well advanced to run a British MotoGP team from next year.

Bird is the team owner of Rapid Solicitors Kawasaki, a strong and established outfit in the British Superbikes championship.

But speaking to Eurosport's Tony Carter, Bird confirmed that funding was in place for a MotoGP campaign, and James Ellison is set to ride for the team.

And in the future, he envisions an entirely British line-up, from the bike itself to the riders who race them.

"We have funding from Dorna, we are the only British team in the Grand Prix paddock, they wanted us there so they helped make it possible," Bird explained.

"The first year, low profile: we've just got one rider (James Ellison). But year two we are looking to move that program up to two riders; we've got a bit more funding. Hopefully in year two we can ramp it up a bit, with some red, white and blue and two Brits and hopefully to mid- to two-thirds through the season we'll have our own British-made chassis...from Barry Ward at GPMS. They're our partners.

"At the moment we are working with Aprilia, but the big dream long-term - this may be eight to ten years away - I'd love to have an all-British bike, all-British riders, all-British team. At Formula One we are the best in the world so we make good stuff, I'm patriotic...so that's the theme - to keep it British as much as we can."

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