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Last year's European Superstock 600 Champion Jed Metcher has officially put pen to paper in signing a one-year contract with the Russian RivaMoto team. The deal will see the 21 year-old Australian from Eltham, Victoria go head-to-head with some of the best riders in the upcoming World Supersport Championship. Metcher will join forces with two 38 year-old Russian riders, Oleg Pozdneev and Eduard Blokhin.

Team RivaMoto, who are currently based in Cartagena in Spain, but who will move to Bologna in Italy after round 1 at Phillip Island will have former 250/500cc racing star Jeremy McWilliams as team manager for the 2012 season.

"I am very excited about being involved with a developing team in the World Supersport championship. The idea of showing our sport on Russian soil is the underlying objective of the RivaMoto team but in the process my goal is to impress as much as possible in the Supersport class. It's an honor to work with Jeremy McWilliams and with his support I believe we have a chance to make an impact" said Metcher.

Jed Metcher's goals for the season will be a top 8 finish in the championship. In 2011 he scored 7 podiums in 10 races, two thirds, four seconds and one win at Aragon in Spain. "With the current direction of motorsport I cannot afford to have an up-and-down season" he added.

With only about 5 weeks to go before the opening round at Phillip Island, Metcher and his new RivaMoto team will have some time to iron out any bugs in the Yamaha YZF-R6 with a two day test in early February in Almeria, another two days at Jerez, then a four day test in Cartagena before the official test on the Monday and Tuesday on the week building up to the first round on Metcher's home soil.

"I have raced before in front of the big crowds at the 2008 MotoGP as a 125GP wildcard. I am looking forward to racing in World Supersport in 2012 in front of my home crowd mainly because I have the advantage of the track knowledge and it will be a great way to start off the season on a high"!