British Superbike champion Shane Byrne has joined the Sterilgarda Ducati team for the World Superbike Championship in 2009.

Byrne, from Sittingbourne, won the BSB title at Silverstone at the weekend and quickly signed a one year deal with a one year option to join the Italian outfit alongside Superstock 1000 leader Alessandro Polita.

Byrne said: “I’m absolutely delighted to be joining the Sterilgarda Go eleven team to participate in the 2009 WSB championship.

"It’s the perfect progression for me having secured the 2008 BSB championship last weekend at Silverstone on very similar Ducati machinery, any team that can run riders of Max Biaggi and Ruben Xaus’s standard can only be at the top of their game.

“I look forward to benefiting from the team and Ducati’s experience to make the transition as straightforward as possible for me and can’t wait for my first opportunity to start working with my new team.”