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2005 British Superbike Champion, Gregorio Lavilla is the rider who has been entrusted to ride for the Cumbrian businessman and the Spaniard will return to the World Championship full time after a four year break. 

Bird has secured the necessary backing from his sponsors, although it has yet to be decided as to what branding Lavilla’s bikes will run when the opening round gets underway in Qatar on February 23^rd and an announcement will follow in due course.

Gregorio Lavilla:

“It has always been my aim to get back into the World Superbike Championship on a competitive bike and I’m very grateful to Paul Bird and his team for this opportunity. I have enjoyed my time in BSB very much and I’m sad to be leaving as I have made many good friends and it has been a good time for my career. I’d like to say thank you to my fans and not only do I have a home race in Spain next season, but I have two more ‘home’ races in England and I’m very much looking forward to it.”

Paul Bird:

“It’s back to our tried and tested formula of a one rider team and that’s where we’ve had most of our successes in the past. The team will be geared around Greg and he’ll get everything he needs to make sure we have the best chance possible. It’s a new venture for us but it’s one that the whole team is very excited about and we aim to start testing very soon in readiness for the opening round in Qatar.”

Name:              Gregorio Lavilla

Born:                29/9/73 – aged 34

Hometown:       Tarragona, Spain

1991                                Debut season in Spanish 75cc Championship

1992                                2^nd Spanish 125cc Championship

1993                                1^st Spanish Sport Production Championship

1994                                1^st Spanish Supersport Championship & Sport Production C’ship

1995                                250cc GP with MX-Onda – points in NL & AUS

1996                                WSB Debut at Albecete as Wild Card – 11^th & 12^th

1997                                2^nd German Superbike Championship (Ducati), WSB Wild Cards GB, D & ESP scoring 18 points

1998                                12^th WSB with De Cecco Ducati, 500cc GP Debut – 11^th

1999                                8^th WSB with Kawasaki Racing Team

2000                                10^th WSB with Kawasaki Racing Team

2001                                10^th WSB with Kawasaki Racing Team

2002                                10^th WSB with Alstare Corona Suzuki

2003                                5^th WSB with Alstare Corona Suzuki

2004                                Suzuki MotoGP Test/Reserve rider – 16^th in AUS, BSB Debut – 3^rd at Thruxton

2005                                1^st British Superbike Championship with Airwaves Ducati

2006                                3^rd British Superbike Championship with Airwaves Ducati

2007                                4^th British Superbike Championship with Airwaves Ducati

2008                                World Superbike Championship with Paul Bird Motorsport

2008 World Superbike Championship – Provisional Calendar

23 February                 Losail, Qatar

2 March                       Phillip Island, Australia

6 April                          Valencia, Spain

27 April                        Assen, Netherlands

11 May                        Monza, Italy

1 June                          Miller, Utah, USA

15 June                        TBA

29 June                        Misano, Italy

20 July                         Brno, Czech Republic

3 August                       Brands Hatch, GB

24 August                     TBA

7 September                 Donington Park, GB

28 September               Vallelunga, Italy

5 October                    Magny Cours, France

26 October                  Portimao, Portugal