Jonathan Rea will switch to Kawasaki for next year’s World Superbike Championship and partner this year’s series runner-up Tom Sykes.

Having been a loyal Honda man for most of his career, it is believes Rea got fed up with being passed over for a MotoGP slot – a frustration intensified by Cal Crutchlow parachuting into LCR Honda for 2015 – so looked elsewhere for a ride capable of bringing him the WSBK title and settled on the ZX-10R.

After three years working with Loris Baz to grow up a young talent, we will start in 2015 a new strategy, with an experienced and fully formed rider Johnny Rea. We are sure he can increase the whole team performance and he will be a very good team-mate with Tom Sykes,” said team boss Guim Roda.

“Both have a big respect for each other, and I’m sure both guys will increase their performance, searching the limits of the Ninja ZX-10R. We expect to put on track two very strong riders next year so it is our idea try to win back the title with our two British weapons.”