Shane Byrne was the 2003 British Superbike champion

Roberts' team will use KTM engines in their Proton bikes this season as the Austrian company steps up to the top level from the junior categories.

Byrne is awaiting the results of a medical on the wrist he injured last season before the move is finalised.

"There shouldn't be any complications with the medical," said team director Harald Bartol.

But Bartol admitted that he was not familiar with Byrne and had been looking to sign Ulsterman Jeremy McWilliams, who instead moved to join the British Superbike Championship.

"To be honest I don't know much about Byrne as a rider. We were expecting to take Jeremy McWilliams, which I was very happy with for development purposes," said Bartol.

"But that situation changed for reasons out of our control. Now we're looking forward to getting to know Shane."