STK1000: Mainwaring joins Buildbase BMW

Buildbase BMW has confirmed that Howie Mainwaring will partner Steve Brogan in the Metzeler National Superstock 1000 Championship this season.

Mainwaring impressed in the class last year on the MSS Kawasaki, finishing fifth overall and taking a victory at Brands Hatch.

The pair will join Buildbase BMW's British Superbike riders Dan Linfoot and Barry Burrell at the official BSB test at Cartagena in Spain from March 1-3.

"This season is going to be fantastic," said Mainwaring. "The BMW has absolutely dominated Superstock for two years and the Buildbase BMW Motorrad team have put together an incredible bike.

"Their experience and skills will give me a fantastic opportunity to take the title. And I'm looking forward to racing alongside Brogan.

"Obviously I'm younger and braver, so I'll be the faster rider!"

Brogan won the first ever BSB Evo title in 2010 for BMW Motorrad and is a previous winner of the Superstock 1000 crown in 2008 before finishing as the runner-up in 2009.

"I expect this year to be as tough as ever and I have been working hard to get back to full fitness since the crash last year, and physically and mentally I'm at the very top of my game and very excited to get out there and race," Brogan said.

Team principal Stuart Hicken is confident the pair will complement each other in the team this season as they bid to land the Superstock 1000 crown.

"This year we have two very fast and experienced lads who will ensure that the BMW S1000-RR is once again at the sharp end of racing.

"Brogan's experience with both the bike and the series will be a real asset and he and Howie will work very well together," said Hicken.

"Thanks to our strong 2011 season, we have a wealth of setup information and race data which, combined with the new and improved RR from BMW, puts us into a very good position for the start of the season."