Anthony West hints at belated BSB debut
Anthony West has hinted at a potential move to the MCE British Superbike championship this year as the Australian hunts a full-time ride.
The former Moto2 race winner has secured a wildcard appearance for the 2016 World Supersport season opener at Phillip Island with X50Green Tea Yamaha, but is yet to confirm a full racing campaign after dropping out of Moto2 last year.
West says he is in talks with a BMW team in BSB which would see him return to the series he left on the eve of a rookie season in 2012. The Australian signed for Supersonic Racing BMW in BSB four years ago but jumped ship a week before the season opener to join Moto2 squad QMMF Team in place of Damian Cudlin, while Tommy Bridewell replaced him at the eleventh hour and pulled off an impressive surprise by making the Showdown.
"At the moment it's just Phillip Island," West told cycleonline.com.au. "I don't really have any other options for racing this year because all the teams in Europe now want big money, which is hard for me with no sponsorship.
"I'm going to try maybe race BSB in the English championship on a BMW or also in CEV Moto2 on an FTR - it looks like I could be doing both. Nothing's signed but that looks like what I'll be doing."
According to the 2016 BSB grid line-up on britishsuperbike.com, only three riders are still to be announced and all are on BMW machinery; Prime Factors Racing BMW, Buildbase BMW and RAF Reserves BMW.
West has also blamed grand prix racing for being 'too political' and would prefer to seek a competitive ride elsewhere in order to fight towards the front rather than at the back of the Moto2 grid.
Last year, West's best results were two seventh place finishes at Austin and Silverstone respectively as he went on to finish 30th in the final riders' standings.
