Hydrex and Bike Animal are pleased to anounce a link up for the 2008 British Superbike Championships and International road race events. The team will be known as Hydrex Bike Animal Honda, and will have a brand new look for the 2008 season. After much speculation the team and their sponsors are pleased to announce that James Ellison and Guy Martin will both contest the British Superbike Championship on board the new Honda CBR1000RR. In addition to the British Superbike Championships, Guy Martin will contest the North West 200, Isle of Man TT, Ulster GP and Macau GP. Team owner Shaun Muir has been working hard behind the scenes to bring this deal together. “Hydrex have been hugely loyal over the past three seasons and we still feel we have unfinished business on the short circuits, on the roads, Guy gave us huge exposure and fell just short of his maiden TT victory, something he is determined to put right in 2008, with Bike Animals interest in the roads and short circuit, it seemed the logical choice to work together in 2008, I have to give massive thanks to the directors of both Hydrex and Bike Animal in making the whole package work”. Bike Animal Managing Director Robert Williams commented “Bike Animal supports all motorcycle sport, riders, teams and manufacturers so after the success of our first year in BSB with Leon Camier and Ian Hutchinson it was important that we maintained a high profile with a strong team and riders, we are delighted to join forces with Hydrex and SMR and believe that this combination will achieve great things in 2008. Andrew Simcox, Hydrex Managing Director added “this is our fourth season supporting the team and we are as committed as ever to achieving a high level of success in the championship, in bringing this together we feel we can push to the next level and mount a serious challenge for honours” James Ellison has been away from the domestic series for the past three seasons, having been in Moto GP in 05 and 06 and the American AMA series for the factory backed Honda Corona team in 07, James brings his international experience to the British Championship and is hungry to make an impression in the worlds finest domestic series. Guy Martin joined the team at the start of 2007 and has achieved a number of podiums at the North West 200, Isle of Man TT and Ulster GP, committing himself to a full assault at the BSB championship, will also give Guy a perfect build up to the international road race events. Shaun Muir is delighted with his signings. “In James we are bringing back home grown talent, James is dedicated, focused and hungry to make an impact, we have been looking at James for a while and once we knew he would come back to BSB we made a move, we are sure this will pay dividends next year, from as early as September, Guy and myself agreed terms for a second season, with his success on the roads, the only issue, was which short circuit championship to contest, with the new engine rules, the cost difference between the Supersport and Superbike has narrowed so the Superbike was the best option all round, considering the arrival of the all new Fireblade.” The team has pre-season testing planned for mid February at Calafat, Gaudix and Albacete in Spain, in readiness for the 2008 season.