TOM TUNSTALL is raring to go in this year’s British Superbikes.

The championship gets under way at Brands Hatch on the weekend of April 3-5 and Tunstall (inset) has backing from insurers Doodson Broking Group.

Racing the Doodson Motorsport Honda Fireblade, team owner and rider Tunstall is now eager to move pre-season preparations onto the race track;

“We’re very pleased that the Doodson Broking Group is stepping up to be title sponsor, part of their continued commitment to motorcycle sport,” he said.

“We’re looking to repay them with our efforts both on and off the track.

“We made some great progress with the new CBR1000RR machine and I’m happy to have consistency with the bike. We’ve now got a year’s worth of data and along with some further developments we should hit the ground running.

“It feels like it’s been a long winter, but I’m thrilled to get things confirmed with Doodson and to be on the Superbike grid.”

It’s the third successive year Doodson have been involved in British Superbikes.

Managing director Neil Clayton said: “It is great to be involved with Tom again and taking over the title sponsorship of the team further demonstrates our commitment to invest back into motorsport.

“We see Tom as a great ambassador for the company and we hope the results for the team in 2010 reflect all the hard work put in over the past year.”

Following the team’s two Spanish tests in early March, Tunstall and his Doodson Motorsport Team plan to complete a number of single-date UK tests before the first race in Kent.

Former Formula One driver Takuma Sato is to compete in the Indycar series this year.

The 33-year-old from Tokyo, who drove for Jordan, BAR Honda and Super Aguri between 2002 and 2008 before the latter team folded, will race for Jimmy Vasser’s KV Racing Technology squad.

After nearly two years of inactivity, Sato said: “I have really missed racing and can’t wait to get started in this new challenge with such a great team. With such a great champion as Jimmy leading the team, I am really confident we will soon be a strong combination.

“I am also really motivated by the chance to be fighting at the front of the field, something I have missed.”