WHEN Kendal's James Ellison got the call to the big time of Moto Grand Prix racing the Jentin Racing team quickly found the ideal replacement - his older brother Dean Ellison.

Soon after clinching the British Superbike Cup James was lured away to WCM Blata to spearhead their world challenge in the equivalent to motor racings Formula One.

So Gloucestershire-based Jentin turned to Dean and his riding quickly impressed them when at an end-of-season event, the Castle Combe Superbike Grand National, he won the Superbike Cup, Dean has now signed to race Jentin's R1 Yamaha for the 2005 season and will compete for the overall British Superbike Championship, racing against former World Superbike stars John Reynolds and Michael Rutter.

He will be joined at Jentin by Manchester rider Gareth Glynn, who will compete in the British Superbike Cup for 2005, the class James won so convincingly last year.

Dean, 27, began his racing career in 1995, competing in club racing on an Aprilia RS before moving to the British Superteen Series. By 2000 he was riding in the Superbike Privateers Cup and scored two wins for his D & B Team. He finished third overall in 2001 and last year scored points in every round but one of the championship.

James, 24, became British 600cc Champion at the age of 17 and in 2000 and 2001 he lifted the European Superstock crown.

He then spent a season riding for Kawasaki in the World Supersport Championships, before the Japanese firm pulled the plug on its participation in the class.

In 2003 he was the youngest ever world champion in endurance racing and last year not only won the British Superbike Cup, but left established works stars trailing as he took fourth and fifth places in the Brands Hatch round of the World Superbike Championship.