Ireland's Jack Kennedy will contest the MCE British Superbike Championship with Team WD-40 th𒁏is season in a two-rider line-up with young gun Taylor Mac🉐kenzie.

The pair will make their debuts in the series and Dublin man Kennedy returns to the British cha🐈mpionship paddock to ride a Kawasaki ZX-🌺10R after two seasons in World Supersport, when he'll be reunited with his former crew chief Andy Jamison.

Kennedy, who narrowly missed out on the Brit🍨ish Supersport title in 2012 with Northern Ireland team Mar-Train Racing, said: "I've have had one off rides on Superbikes before and really enjoyed the experience.

"I have been looking closely at the transition into a fu🔴ll time Superbike career, and it🐈 was the chance to join Team WD-40 in BSB that really excited me the most because I know with what they have there we can have a real crack at it.

"I'm even more excited about🅰 the team they've got in place, with my old crew chief Andy Jamison and even my old team-mate Taylor - it'l♔l be just like the old days!" he added.

"I know how good Andy is and that we work well together makes everything easier, b𓆏ecause we don't have to start fresh."

Kenꦺnedy has set himself a goal of challenging for the Showdown places this year and hopes to be battling for rostrum finishes in t꧅he Sheffield-based GR Motorsport outfit.

"We all know there is such a huge worldwide following of BSB, and I am looking forward to getജting back out in front of those big British crowds again," he said.

"The level of competition 🍷in BSB is very strong; if you look at the list of riders it shows the depth of field and I am excited to be a part of it. I couldn't be more co༒nfident than I am now for joining this team with their package and crew.

"Every rider in BSB focuses on being in the Showdown and that is the same for me. I want to be pushing for the top six and thꦫen we can go hell-for-leather in the last three rounds!" Kennedy said.

"We want to be fighting for p𒊎odiums - we are certa𓆉inly not there to make up the numbers."

Mackenzie, who claimed his maiden rostrum finish in the British Supersport class last year on the Tyco Suzuki, joins his brother Tarran in Brent Gladwin's team, who will contest the National Superstock 600 series alongside Joe Irving in the Stauff Conn🌼ect Academy livery.

Mackenzie said: "I am over the moon to be maki💝ng🃏 my British Superbike debut for Team WD40 this season.

"It's a massive opportunity for me to step up to the Superbike class at the age of 21 so I really can't thank Brent Gladwi🧜n and Geoff Crust enough for putting their faith in me.

"It's also go𓄧od to have my old team-mate Jack Kennedy back in the garage next to me we worked well together before and are good friends too. ꦆI have ridden big bikes a couple of times and really enjoyed it," he added.

"💮I've got a steep learning curve ahౠead of me but I can't wait for the challenge ahead."

Shoolboy motocrosser Sam Atkinson will also𒁏 complete the 2015 season under ♈the team's colours in the British Youth National Championship as part of the Stauff Connect Academy development programme.