With the door closing o♈n his grand prix career, some MotoGP summer-break whispers have been linking Scott Redding with a possible switch to the British Superbike Championship next season, at PBM.

The Englishman is to be replaced by Andrea Iannone at Aprilia next year and the 25-year-old - a race winner in 125GP, title runner-up in Moto2 and podium finisher in Mo♑toGP - accepts he has to leave the premier-class.

Redding is known to be mulling over a potential switch to the World Superbike championship, which he might be 🐼able to combine with Aprilia's offer of a MotoGP test and wild-card role.

A return to Moto2 is another possibility, although Re⛎dding is concerned that he would again suffer due to his size, with BSB now also under consideration.

"We've had contact with a few more people in different categories, different series, but there is still nothing really for me that's ready to sign. We're just negotiating to see 👍what is the best option for me," said Redding, wearing a Hawaiian shirt inside the Aprilia hospitality at Brno on Thursday.

"I can't say I've made any big steps. I spoke with Mi♍chael [Bartholemy, manager] three times over the summer break about what to do. And there are some things I'm favouring, ꦫbut I still need to wait until there's something solid. It's all talk at the moment.

"I have maybe three options and t𝐆hey are ♑all in the same level. That's why I'm taking a bit more time... But I do want to race."

Asked directly about BSB, Redding replied:

"There is talk about me going there. Of course I have to consider it. But the problem for me is it's a big jump to come back there. The safety thing does concern me. I'm not going to l꧒ie. You have places like Cadwell - it scares me to watch. Maybe riding you don’t notice it, but there's the problem.

"I did all my racing career in the world championship on safe circuits ꩵand even then there are still places like Sachsenring - how many guys hit the airfence there? There are those things that I think about. Is it worth it? I need to weigh it up.

"The [BSB] championship is good. The competition and level is 🍨quite high. And it looks a fun championship to be in. That's the bit that pulls me towards it. It is fun, which is a bit my style, but you're 25, coming back there you have pressure, you need to win, I have to take a chance… I'm not sure.

"It's not something I've written off. It's not something I want to do first of all, but it's in 🅺the mix."

Redding was supported by PBM♏ 🅺team owner Paul Bird early in his career and, if the rumours are true, would have the chance to join a team that has won four of the last six British Superbike titles with Shane Byrne.

Byrne suffer🐎ed serious injuries in a testing accident earlier this year and it is uncertain if he will be able to return in 2019. Another star name, Leon Haslam, is already confirmed as leaving the series for WorldSBK nextꦛ season.

'Paul has had discussions with a number of talented riders'

Asked about the Redding rumours, PBM told mahbx.com: "The PBM BeWiser Ducati BSB Race Team recently confirmed that Glenn Irwin would compete iಞn the 2019 series alongside a y⛎et unnamed and unconfirmed second rider.

"We have not yet made a decision with regards to a second rider however Paul has had discussions with a number of talented riders and testing on the 201❀9 Ducati will not commence without a signed contract."

Redding - who has raced for Honda, Ducati and now Aprili🌄a in MotoGP - has a best race finish of twelfth so far this season, compared with ninth for team-mate Aleix Espargaro, but is enjoying himself more now the pressure to try and keep his ride is over.

Weight still a concern for Redding in Moto2

"Everybody would expect me to go to Moto2," Redding said. "I would like t🔯o go there as an option aꦺnd fight for the championship. It's a new category with the new [Triumph] engines etc. but the problem is I will always have a [weight] disadvantage.

"I can win races, but to win a championship you need to be consistent and you saw even wh🍒en I was fighting for the championship before I could be strong and then go to another track and be 5th and 6th.

"You see t🍰he same with Baldassa💫rri now. Then it's more difficult to fight for a championship.

"Last year to this year I lost 5 kg. I was almost dying and if I go tꩲo Moto2 I need to lose at least 3-4 kg more to make myself competitive. I can do it but I don’t know what state my body 🦩will be in, if I can be strong enough to fight all the race or not. And if I did win the Moto2 championship, where do I go after?

"Would MotoGP take me back because of my past here? So Moto2 would be a gamble and for me gambling doesn't work! So I need to find something that puts me in the right🍬 structure. I'm not ruling out Moto2, especially with ☂things changing for next year, but I need to think about the other factors."

Aprilia test offer still on table

Meanwhile, Redding also confirmed that the Aprilia test and wild-card offer is 'still on the ༺table'.

"It's something that I am considering. I🐈 can probably gain more with that option out of most, but I'm away from the racing. So as always there's the positive and negative. Like with Moto2, where I'd be racing, but what comes afte👍r?

"So I'm trying to understand which steps I need to make to cross this bridge that I'm on at the moment. To be a test rider is not something I'd love to do, but if I get some wild-cards and maybe 🎃I'm stil💛l there and can show my potential.

"If I was doing the results that I'm doing now, at 💦the beginning of the year I wouldn't even be in this situation.

"But it doesn't matter now. I need to find the way to go and I think it's one of the offers that I need to really consider and see if I can develop 🅺and improve the bike and show my potential with some wild-cards.

"There is a timeframe on [the Aprilia test offer] . But they kind of cut me a bit short on my time, so🍨 I think they have to understand and give me some leeway to see what other offers I have.

"They could also take other rꦺiders - I don’t know what Bradley and Alvaro's situations are, they are good development riders as well. So I can't be too long, but I need to really make the right decision and if they close it and I can't take it then it is what it is.

"I can't rush. I need to take the right way…"