Following on from discussions with his team’s current sponsors this week, double BSB winning team owner Paul Bird will make an audacious bid to land the World Superbike Championship next season. After negotiations with his 2007 riders Shane ‘Shakey’ Byrne and Tom Sykes came to nothing, Bird brokered a deal with his backers which will see them all remain with the team for 2008 and as well as that budget, the Cumbrian poultry magnate has been offered some help from the HRC factory also. Speaking about the deal, Bird said: “I’ve always said that at some point in time, I’d like to do the World Championship and in the situation we have found ourselves in, now is the ideal opportunity. I have a duty to my team to provide them with the very best riders to work with and it is just what we need. We have all felt like a pair of discarded Y Fronts over the past few days and weeks but it just goes to prove that a team like mine can bounce back and we are all very excited by the prospect. I’m sad to be leaving BSB as we’ve had some great times there and I wish Tom and Shakey all the best on their season with their respective teams in the UK.” Bird will announce his line up of riders and further details upon his return from holiday later this month. The opening round of the 2008 World Superbike Championship is on February 23rd in Qatar with the two British rounds held at Brands Hatch on August 3rd and Donington Park on September 7th.