ADAM Jenkinson has returned to the team he represented last season ahead of the National Superstock 1000 Championship second round at Oulton Park this weekend.

The Knutsford rider leaves Russo Racing, for whom he rode an NMT No Limits Kawasaki to a disappointing 17th place overall in the campaign curtain-raiser at Silverstone earlier this month.

Instead he will be back on board a Northern Escalator Installations-prepared machine at his home circuit.

"For me, Monday's race is the real round one," said the 31-year-old.

"I'm just so happy the guys at NEI Motorsport have thrown me a lifeline to carry on."

Jenkinson announced a switch to Russo, the manufacturer's official team, at the turn of the year.

However he struggled to get the best from their newly-built Ninja ZX-10R model.

He said: "I've had better starts to a season, it's fair to say.

"It was a disappointment to everybody in the team, who had worked so hard, to be so far down the order.

"When it became clear issues outside of my control would likely have an impact moving forward, I decided to move on."

Jenkinson took part in an official test at Oulton Park on Friday, posting a best lap of 1.38.337 in the third session.

He has fought for the Superstock 1000 title in each of the past five seasons, classifying fifth overall last term despite missing three rounds while recovering from an injury sustained at Donington Park.

The Bucklow Hill ace ended on a high though, securing third place at Brands Hatch in October - his second podium finish of the year.

Monday's race is scheduled for 2.15pm.