Angry Linfoot left out of Mahi Kawasaki team

Dan Linfoot has revealed he won't be racing with the factory-assisted Mahi Kawasaki team in the World Supersport Championship next season, the British rider left out of the line-up despite being told a ride was available for him.

Linfoot made his debut with the new Indian-based team mid-way through the 2012 WSS season under the guise of MSD R-N Kawasaki. Despite initial teething issues, Linfoot proved quicker than more experienced team-mate Florian Marino and picked up an unexpected podium finish during the Magny-Cours season finale.

Since then, MSD R-N has undergone a name change to Mahi Racing and secured official backing for the 2013 World Supersport Championship from Kawasaki, a deal that has seen reigning champion Kenan Sofuoglu and former title winner Fabien Foret subsequently come on board.

However, Linfoot and Marino were also initially reported as being involved in a four-strong line-up, but while the 24-year-old says he was always led to believe this was also the case, he says he has now been dropped from the team with little warning.

Desperately disappointed to have been cast aside after such a strong showing during the closing stages of the 2012 season, Linfoot blasted the Mahi team for its 'poor and misleading communication'.

"I am so disappointed to be in this position, joining a newly formed team to compete in WSS on an agreement with a view for 2013, and then to deliver two results above the teams expectations, I was hoping would be sufficient to seal the deal for 2013.

"But after several weeks of poor and misleading communication, being announced in several media sites as part of a four-man WSS team with reigning WSS champ Sofuoglu, and agreeing verbally on a deal after the Portimao race, I have now had the carpet pulled from beneath me and I can't stress enough how unprofessional the management have handled this situation."

Linfoot says he will now look to return to the British Superbike paddock in 2013, but admits finding a ride might prove difficult.

"I'm carrying a cloud over me because I've had a couple of seasons chopping and changing teams. The splits have been for completely different reasons, and in fact, all I have wanted is to find a home in a team who believe in me, and that can give me the opportunity to succeed in this sport."

Mahi Racing were on track at Jerez last week with Sofuoglu and Foret, but without Linfoot and Marino.