Rumour: Westy replaces Hutchy at Swan Yamaha

ANTHONY WEST has been drafted in by Swan Yamaha to replace the injured Ian Hutchinson in the British Superbike championship.

That's the rumour from our source within the BSB paddock. The move to place West in the championship-winning Yamaha team has been pushed forward by Monster Energy on the Australian's behalf.

West was expected to return to the MotoGP championship this season, riding for the Speed Master team, but he was dropped after being unable to fund the ride. Rather than head home to find an 'ordinary job' as he threatened, West posted on his official Facebook page earlier this week that he was fielding offers to race in various domestic series.

Hutchinson was injured less than a week ago whilst rehearsing for the London Bike show. The eight-time TT winner suffered another break to same leg he damaged at the end of the 2010 season, although the fresh fracture is well away from the original breaks.

Click here for the 2012 British Superbikes calendar