After becoming the first female to win a solo motorcycle world championship last year, 21-year-old Ana Carrasco will defend her World Supersport 300 crown with Kawasaki.

The Spaniard rode last season with DS Junior racing – having used a crowd-funding appeal in the wake of a sponsorship hitch – and two wins from the opening four races created a platform for her eventual victory.

She has now switched to Kawasaki-backed Provec, whose co-director Guim Roda said: “Last year’s result was spectacular and we had no choice but to set up a project tailored to Ana, to help her be an example for all women who believe ‘Yes, I can.”

The season begins April 5-7 in Aragon.