Chrysalis Racing team from Southampton have signed up one of the most promising young road racers in the UK.

Kieran Murphy celebrated his debut on their Rob Willsher Suzuki with third place in the first round of the British Superstock Championship at Silverstone.

The fact that he was later docked a place for overtaking under a yellow flag didn't detract from the significance of Murphy's performance.

Chrysalis, run by brothers Neal and Lee Morris from Swanwick, were 11th in last year's Superstock Championship and Howard Whitby got them on to the podium with a third place at Oulton Park.

But after Whitby was injured in a high speed qualifying accident at Brands Hatch, the year ended on a low note.

The 2002 Championship year promises to be a different proposition. Murphy, 23 years old from Ipswich, competed in his first four stroke based championship last year in the British Superstock series and consistently flirted with the top six.

A former motocross racer from as early as 10 years old, Murphy has worked hard to establish himself as a potential major player in motorcycle racing. He qualified on pole position at Brands Hatch and front row at Assen in Holland in the European equivalent of the Superstock series.

Murphy commented: "This is a great opportunity for me to show what I can do at the top level with an established team. Chrysalis Racing have a strong reputation having fielded top riders like John McGuinness and Jim Moodie."

Team Manager Lee Morris said: "Kieran will develop into a very strong rider both in the UK and abroad. Last year promised so much we lacked consistency. Kieran has proved to be a very consistent runner and the team is very reliable."

Another new addition to the Chrysalis Racing team is former Supersport racer Andy Pallot who joins the team as head technician and Morris said: "He will prove a good asset.

"We hope that set-up issues can be addressed race to race. Andy runs his own tuning company, SPD and he has used his contacts effectively to ensure significant support from German company Wilbers Suspension for the 2002 season."

Chrysalis have again secured the support of last year's sponsors Rob Willsher Motorcycles and George Walker Transport in Leeds.

They also have a new product sponsor in Devil Exhausts, the French manufacturer who have a great pedigree in World Endurance racing.