Nationwide accident compensation experts Rapid Solicitors have announced today a major new sponsorship deal around Britain's biggest motorsport series, the MCE Insurance British Superbike Championship (BSB). The sponsorship programme consists of three exciting parts; the Ducati-powered Ridersmotorcycles.com British Superbike team, the Ducati 848 Challenge and the BSB Championship itself.

The deal will see the popular West Country based team of the series most experienced rider Michael Rutter and team-mate Martin Jessopp, both on-board the booming Italian V-twin Ducati 1198 machines become Rapid Solicitors-Bathams Ducati. The team will expand to three riders and will also include up and coming Hull-based rider Michael Booth who will compete in the highly competitive National Superstock category.

The Ducati theme is further enhanced with title sponsorship of the prestigious new Ducati 848 Challenge which takes in five BSB rounds as well as visits to the iconic Assen and Monza circuits in the Netherlands and Italy respectively.

Finally, the BSB official sponsorship will ensure category exclusive rights of association, trackside advertising visibility and innovatively, support of the BSB Championships highly regarded medical team.

Rapid Solicitors Andrew Baldwin said:

"The association with a top racing team, the legendary Ducati marque and the UK's top motorsport series is a terrific fit for Rapid Solicitors. We are already involved in Football, Rugby and Ice Hockey projects but this is by far our biggest sports sponsorship. It's a great honour to be associated with Ducati and BSB and to mark the event; we have rebranded the entire business to match the Ducati team's traditional colours of red, white and green."

Ridersmotorcycles team owner Phil Jessopp said:

"This is without doubt the most exciting moment in the history of our team and we are all really motivated for the forthcoming season. We have undergone development work on the Ducatis over the winter and know that this is the time to take the team to the next level. We have a strong test schedule as we want Michael (Rutter) and Martin (Jessopp) to be inside the top six in the Showdown for the title at the end of the season. We also have a young pretender in Michael Booth lining up in the Superstock class and hope that the team's experience can put him on a winning track."

Rutter said:

"I am happy to be back with the team again for 2011 and I know that we can build on what we achieved last year and move forward. We proved last season that we could win races, finish consistently on the podium and be title contenders in the Showdown and I think our team will really be one to reckon with again this year. I believe that we will come back to the grid even stronger than before and we have a good test schedule planned so we are ready for the start of the season. I still want to win a BSB title so I am hoping this will be my year with the Rapid Ducati team."

Jessopp said:

"It was a tough season for me last year, it started well and we were making good progress and I felt we could be podium finishers but then I had the crash at Mallory Park and that was it - game over. I have worked hard over the winter to be ready for the start of this season and we know what the Ducati is capable of, so we just need to get our heads down in testing and come out fighting at Brands Hatch."

Ducati UK Managing Director Tim Maccabee said:

"We are all looking ahead to an exciting forthcoming season of the Ducati 848 Challenge and I am delighted to have such an active and involved sponsor as Rapid Solicitors becoming part of the series."

BSB Series Director Stuart Higgs commented on the sponsorship:

"I am really pleased to welcome Rapid Solicitors on board to BSB and hope this is the start of a long and successful partnership. The positioning of Rapid Solicitors across three diverse elements of BSB will be very powerful and demonstrates how partnerships with BSB can be specially tailored. The expansion of the Ducati team and the new Ducati 848 Challenge are further boosts to the overall health of the Series."

Rapid Solicitors are a major national force in the accident claims industry and their unique way of working has helped secure fast compensation for thousands of clients. The firm has industry experts in compensation negotiation and offers disability aids and adaptations, along with a showroom. The firm offers free home or hospital visits or the ability on-site at a BSB event to discuss a compensation claim.

The Rapid Solicitors-Bathams Ducati British Superbike team will be attending the forthcoming MCN London Motorcycle Show. Visitors will be able to see Michael Rutter's race-winning Ducati 1198 Superbike in its new livery alongside the Rapid Solicitors Ducati 848 Challenge race bike on the Ducati UK stand.

The first round of the 2011 MCE Insurance British Superbike Championship featuring the Rapid Solicitors Ducati 848 Challenge takes place at Brands Hatch over Easter weekend April 22-25th.