Moto Rapido Ducati will make a step up to the MCE British Superbike Championship next season with a two-rider team.

Current racer Scott Smart will return to the main class after a successful year in the Metzeler National Superstock 1000 series and will campaign a Superbike under the new Evo rules. An as-yet-unnamed second man will join him in the squad.

Team manager Steve Moore said: “We had a good year in Superstock and learned a lot about the Ducati, so that has put us in good stead for the jump up to the Superbike class with the Evo rules.

Moto Rapido Ducati’s Scott Smart grabbed second place in today’s Metzeler National Superstock 1000 race at Croft this afternoon after a difficult weekend which saw technical problems rule him out of most of practice and qualifying.

The team suffered big problems through the whole weekend with the 1198S breaking an oil cooler in first qualifying practice, leaving Smart with only 20 laps to get the bike dialed in for the 15-lap race.

Moto Rapido Ducati is delighted to announce that Firestar Energy will join the Metzeler National Superstock 1000 team as a new partner for the rest of the 2009 season. Rider Scott Smart’s 1198S will carry the company’s logo and both parties have made commitments for 2010, when the team hopes to be competing with two riders.

Moto Rapido team manager Steve Moore said: “We are delighted to have Firestar on board for the rest of the season. The brand reflects what we are trying to do as a team in the Metzeler National Superstock 1000 series and are looking forward to a strong and fruitful partnership for the rest of this year and into next.

Scott Smart sliced through the field to take a hard-fought fourth place in Monday’s Metzeler National Superstock 1000 race at Cadwell Park despite qualifying in 15th place.

The Maidstone racer suffered engine difficulties in Sunday’s second qualifying session which meant he had to start from row five on the grid - not an easy place to be on a track that is known for making overtaking difficult.