Reigning British Superbike Champion Tommy Hill from Beckenham will defend his title with the Swan Yamaha team in 2012.

In a deal done in the middle of last week, Hill signed to carry the number one plate for Shaun Muir’s team and is looking forward to the challenge of new bikes, new rules, new competition and a series that is increasingly European in its attitude.

“I’ve always wanted a bit of consistency, that’s has been at the forefront of my mind. You have to look at the BSB championship becoming more European as time goes on. We had a very international field this year and racing at Assen will put us in the eye of a bigger audience in terms of spectators and potential sponsors,” said Hill, speaking to bikesportnews.com this morning.

“Winning the 2011 British Superbike title was the high point of my career so far. It felt incredible to cross that line and know I had finally done the thing I had set out to achieve all those years ago. It hasn’t been an easy path but I finally did it.

“That title put me in a great position to talk further with other BSB teams for 2012 but I wanted to run two seasons in the same team to achieve some consistency. It will not be an easy title to defend in 2012 but having the same people around me should smooth out the path.

“It’s a new bike with new rules, so it’s going to be interesting. I am delighted that SMR and Swan Yamaha wanted me be back in the team, and having Ian Hutchinson as a team mate, will be good as well as hopefully carrying some success through out, with the TT and BSB.

“Of course, I have got unfinished business in World Superbikes but os have a lot of other riders to. I see it as a stepping stone to the world stage but maybe BSB an overtake WSB and become a European series of some sort. WSB might not be there in the future, you never know what is going to happen.”