SCUNTHORPE superbike team Rob Mac Racing have seen their season take another unexpected twist, with their fifth rider of the season set to compete.

Team principle Rob McElnea had high hopes at the start of the season after recruiting former world and British champion Neil Hodgson.

NEW FACE: Loris Baz has joined Rob Mac Racing.

After those plans were ruined by a shoulder injury forcing Hodgson to retire, McElnea signed Irish youngster Ian Lowry.

He did not last long either and Australian Andrew Pitt was soon brought in as replacement.

But with Pitt now recovering from a broken collarbone he will miss the next round of the British Superbike Championships at Croft this coming weekend.

So Lori Baz, the 2008 World Superstock champion, will replace Pitt at Croft.

Baz is currently racing in the World Championships on the Yamaha R1 but has agreed to try and give the team a boost.

Linfoot and Pitt currently sit in 17th and 18th respectively in a disappointing season in the British Championships so far for Rob Mac Racing, so McElnea is hoping Baz can bring a few smiles back to his team.

"This is a great opportunity for my team, we had planned to test Loris after Croft but with Andrew not fully fit we decided to enter Loris in the Croft event," McElnea said.

"At 15 he won the World Junior Superstock and is tipped to be one of the new stars of the future.

"Loris follows the British Championships, watching all the Brits at the front of the World Superbike races every weekend he knows the series is the most competitive in the World and can't wait to join in.

"Yamaha France are very supportive of Loris joining our team and the British Championships, thanks to them, Yamaha Europe and Yamaha UK we have managed to get this together.

"Dan Linfoot raced with Loris in 2008 and is looking forward to showing him around his home circuit."