Rob McElnea says he is delighted to be offering Jon Kirkham the opportun💦ity to return to the ViSK.com British Superbike Championship as 💃the long-term replacement for Michael Rutter.

Kirkham makes his return to 𓆉the team, with whom he made a guest appearance at the end of the 2008 season as a deputy for Karl Harris, having severed his ties with the Jentin Yamaha team he began the year with☂.

Taking up the North West 200 Coca-Cola Zero Yamaha as va🃏cated by Rut💫ter after just two rounds, McElnea is confident Kirkham will capitalise on the significant strides made by the team in recent races.

"It was a shame that we did not continue with Michael but the opportunity for us to sign Jon as a replacement has worked out great," he said. "Jon will give this chance his best shot and we should get to see his potential, we are making big🧜 steps with the new bike and hopefully he will benefit from the work all the team have put in so✅ far this season.

"Friday morning at Snetterton will be John's first ride on his new bike, it will be꧒ a sharp learning curve for him but with we are confident of a strong result and a good showing for the North West Coca Cola Yamaha team."

Reigning Henderson R1 Cup champion Kirkham, who missed the recent Thruxton round of the series, is curre♑ntly classified 19th in the standings with 15 points.