Dan Kneen ready to take on BSB Evo challenge in 2011

Kneen finished runner-up in last year's British Supersport Cup

Isle of Man rider Dan Kneen will continue to compete for the Marks Bloom Racing Team in 2011 with the added support of Kawasaki UK.

The 23-year-old, who finished runner-up in the 2010 Supersport Cup, will ride the new Kawasaki Ninja ZX-10R in the 2011 BSB Evo Series.

"The team and the bike are great, so hopefully I can get stuck in and win some races," he said.

Kneen will also contest all the international road races in 2011.

The Braddan man recorded a string of fine results last year, including victory at the Dunrod 150 and top-10 finishes at both the TT and the North West 200.

He also narrowly missed out on winning the 2010 Supersport Cup on Yamaha machinery, but will make the switch to Kawasaki for his assault on the BSB Evo Series.

"Like so many riders looking for podiums in 2011, Dan has chosen the new Ninja ZX-10R," said Kawasaki UK's Ross Burridge.

"His track record so far, allied to the support of loyal and enthusiastic sponsors, looks set to produce the perfect platform for his future success on Kawasaki machinery."

Kneen says he is looking forward to honing his short circuit skills as part of the much anticipated EVO class in the British Superbike Championship.

"It's a really exciting class. It's the Superbike chassis with a standard engine, and I can't wait to get racing," he said.

The Manx rider will travel to Spain at the beginning of March to begin testing ahead of April's opening round at Brands Hatch.