Laverty learned yesterday that he is being replaced in the Shaun Muir Racing BMW Team for 2019 by Tom Sykes, until recently world champion countryman Jonathan Rea's team-mate at Kawasaki Racing.

Toomebridge rider Laverty commented:

"It won't be easy to find a seat having been informed of my replacement so late, however I won't give up."

Monaco-based Laverty felt he had done enough to retain his place after a first pole position and two podium finishes, having returned after a three-race absence following pelvic injuries sustained in an accident in Thailand.

The 32-year-old currently sits ninth in the World Superbike championship, one place ahead of his team-mate Lorenzo Savadori, who has also been axed.

Sykes has been under-performing in the Kawasaki team in the last two years and it is something of a shock for many that he has ousted Laverty from his seat.

Laverty said:

"I'm proud of my record in WSB and I was looking forward at the prospect of riding the factory BMW in 2019. I just have two opportunities, at Qatar this weekend, to win before the team and I go our separate ways."

What is left for Laverty in WSB appears limited with Red Bull Honda one possibility or maybe a return to British Superbikes, although his main priority is to be on the WSB grid in Australia for round one in February 2019.

Roy Harris