Laverty out, McGuinness in?

John Laverty has revealed exclusively to Crash.net that he no longer has a ride with the Vitrans Racing team for the rest of the Bennetts British Superbike season.

Speaking at the Cadwell BSB test, the young Irish rider was very down - having only just heard the news himself.

"I just found out yesterday [Tuesday] that the ride has fallen from beneath me, it's been pulled," he revealed. "I was on my way to the airport when I was told, it was a bit of a shock as I was coming here testing."

Indeed, the decision to end his ride has clearly been a sudden one.

"I don't know what has happened, the team seem to have folded, I don't know if it's due to funds or what," he added. "Robbie Burns [team owner] has just pulled the pin with me, whether it's personal I don't know, but he hasn't phoned me himself to say, it's all been through second hand, which isn't as nice as you'd like - so it's all been a bit iffy."

It might therefore appear that the Vitrans team have left themselves without a Superbike rider, however Laverty stated that an as yet unnamed rider would soon be testing the machine.

"I don't know where they are going, they talked about putting a test rider on for Silverstone," he said. "What they intend to do for the rest of the season I don't know, but at this stage it has left me without a ride. I'm on the look out now for a ride, possibly Britain or Europe so I'll keep my fingers crossed."

So who could be on the bike at Silverstone? Crash.net spoke with John McGuinness, who was staying tight lipped about a test ride that he has lined up at Silverstone next Tuesday.

"I want to race, and at Silverstone I've got a test on a Superbike," the road race veteran said. "I can't say too much at the moment, but at Silverstone it will all come out at the BSB test. Hopefully I've got a package there until the end of the year."

When pushed further on the subject, McGuinness wasn't reavealing anything.

"I can't really [say more]...it's not really fair to say anything at the moment," he said. "It will definitely come out in the wash. It's unfortunate for what has happened to one person, you know, I've had it happen to me before, but that is the way it goes, one door shuts and one door opens. That is just the way it is.

To find out if Vitrans have traded John Laverty for John McGuinness, stay tuned to Crash.net who will be attending the BSB test at Silverstone and will make the Vitrans garage our first port of call...