Erik Buell Racing has of꧂ficially confirmed it will join the World Superbike Championship ranks in 2014 to become the first-ever American manufacturer to enter the series.

The firm, which has been racing in the AMA Superbike Championship for the past three seasons, will enter a pair 🎃of EBR 1190RX Superbikes for all-American rider pairing Aaron Yates and Geoff May,🦋 who competed with the manufacturer in 2013.

EBR's move into international competition comes courtesy of investment f🦄rom prominent key partner Hero Mo🦄torCorp, India's largest two-wheel manufacturer, following the acquisition of a large stake in EBR earlier this year. As such, the team set to race under the 'Team Hero EBR' banner in 2014.

"We are delighted to announce our plans to compete in the 2014 World Superbike championship," said team manager Giulio Bardi. "The entire team is excited and looking forward to the challenge ahead. Our riders Geoff and Aaron are both proven front runners within the AMA championship and wil♔l bring a wealth of riding experience to our campaign. We have a lot of work to do but when the lights go out for the opening race at Phillip Island in February, we will be ready."

Bardi's views were reflected by riders Yates and May - who finished eighth and ninth re✱spectively in the 2013 AMA Superbike Championship -, with both riders delighted to be making the jump.

"I'm delighted to r💯emain with Team Hero EBR for 2014 and join them ꦦin moving to the World Superbike championship," said Yates. "There will be a lot of new tracks to learn and a lot of data to collect, but we have a strong team with competent personnel so I am confident and excited to head to Australia where Geoff and I should both have a strong chance of scoring points in both races."

"This coming season is a new chapter for us and I can't wait to get sꦓtarted," added May. "We know that we have a big ch💖allenge ahead of us but we are all ready for it. I am not expecting to be at the sharp end immediately but am confident of featuring inside the points consistently and springing a surprise or two throughout the year."