British Superbike contender Tommy Hill will reunite with Yamaha for the manufacturer’s 50th anniversary of racing in 2011, signing for the Swan Yamaha team this week.

Shaun Muir Racing (SMR) has confirmed they will be competing for the BSB Championship and have signed Hill to lead their assault on the title aboard the Yamaha R1 after finalising a deal that will see the team receive manufacturer support.

Hill joins the team after narrowly missing out on the 2010 BSB title and is relishing the opportunity to be reunited with Yamaha, the manufacturer he made his BSB debut with in 2004 after winning the inaugural one-make Yamaha R6 Cup in 2003.

“I am really buzzing about this new opportunity,” Hill explained. “I came so close to the title this season and effectively one race lost me the championship, so of course I am looking ahead to next year and I want to win the title more than ever.

“As soon as the season finished I was looking ahead to 2011 and I knew that the package with SMR was going to be a big deal, especially with Yamaha’s involvement. It is an exciting new venture for me and fantastic to be reunited with Yamaha, as it is with them that I really started my career so I feel like I have unfinished business.

“It is nice to be one of the first riders to confirm their place on the grid for next season, especially as everyone knows what the Yamaha is capable of as it has won in both world and British championships.

“I am now preparing for the start of the new season and I can’t wait to get testing underway so that we arrive at the Brands Hatch opening round at Easter ready to fight for the wins.”

Hill joins Yamaha after switching from Suzuki, while the Swan-backed SMR team will switch to Yamaha after a number of successful seasons with Honda.