KENDAL's British Superbikes star James Ellison has signed for the TAG Racing Yamaha team for next year in what will be his final campaign in the series.

After a difficult 2017 which saw Ellison miss out on the showdown positions with McAMS Yamaha, Ellison said last week he was looking for a new challenge.

It was revealed this week that he had signed a one-year deal with the TAG Racing team, which finished third in last season's standing, where he will partner Shaun Winfield.

Ellison said: “I’m delighted to agree a deal with the TAG Racing Yamaha team for the up and coming 2018 season, and I can’t wait to get under way. Staying on a Yamaha was a big deal for me, I led at some points in the first six rounds of the season and the bike has proven to be a race winner.

£It’s great to be able to agree the deal before Christmas so I am able to focus on the task in hand, the team can develop the bike in certain areas and we can start testing as soon as possible.

“Last year was tough but we showed strong pace and ran at the front every weekend other than Thruxton, but we just threw away too many points with a few crashes and technical DNF’s. My early impressions are that the team are great, they have a great bunch of guys and I can’t wait to get working with them, the family atmosphere was also a big deal for me.

“It’s going to be my final year in MCE BSB so I want to win it, I want to go out with a bang and give everyone something to cheer. My best year was in 2009 on a Yamaha where I finished second, so I’m fully focussed on going one better in 2018 to win my first BSB Championship.”

Team owner Rob Winfield said: "“I’m delighted to be able to welcome James to the team, he’s shown a lot of interest in the programme we have in place here, and he’s determined to help us to go one better for 2018. The calibre of James doesn’t need to be spoke about, he has a lot of experience and he knows the Yamaha very well, which will help us and him when we get out testing.

“Our aim is the win the Championship in 2018, we have learnt a lot from last year which we are bringing into this coming season, with James’ focus and drive to succeed in his last year in the Championship it has the omens to be a very good season."