The MCE Insurance backed British Superbike Championship returns this weekend with an Easter holiday programme full of entertainment and the two British Superbike races taking place on Bank Holiday Monday April 5th.
With two returning champions and an exciting new rule change, this season looks set to one of the most competitive ever, if that is possible given the fantastic excitement and racing of previous championships.
British Eurosport will be on hand to offer exclusive coverage of the series, starting with extensive live coverage, interviews and expert reaction as the races unfold at Brands Hatch on Monday April 5th.
Among the studio guests will be Brands local boy and last years dominant British Superbike champion Leon Camier.
Camier ran away with the 2009 championship, setting a new record of 14 race wins in a season and wrapping up the title with one round to go. The Kent rider has since moved up to the World Superbike Championship with the Aprilia Alitalia Racing team and is currently eighth in the standings after a promising start to the season.
Returning to his home circuit this Easter weekend, Camier will join presenter Tony Carter, fellow former BSB champion James Whitham, former BSB and WSB rider James Haydon and commentator Jack Burnicle as part of the Eurosport team throughout the day.
A major new rule change for the 2010 series will ensure no one runs away with the championship this season. Following the first nine events, the top six riders in the standings will qualify for “The Showdown” and become the “Title Fighters” for the remaining three events, battling it out to become champion. They will each be awarded 500 points, plus additional points for each podium they have achieved up to this point. Meanwhile the remaining riders will continue to contest the “British Superbike Riders’ Cup”.
Eurosport pundit and former BSB and WSB rider James Haydon thinks these changes will add to the excitement of the championship and believes fans are in for a real treat;
“I think this season is going to be a cracker! The dominant champion Leon Camier has left, we have new entertaining rules and some big guns returning from overseas – think Hodgson, Kiyonari and Kagayama – awesome. Yet on the flip side we have some raw, young talent bursting through and eager to prove themselves. It will be tight with at least eight people capable of winning races. I can’t wait for it to start!”
James Whitham agrees and thinks there are a number of riders in the running for the title;
“I think this season will be quite open, unlike last year which turned into a one-horse race, I can’t see any one rider dominating this time. My tip would be Josh Brookes, the HM Plant Honda rider is tough and aggressive and with the experience he built up last season, he will be keen to stamp his authority on the series.
Worx Suzuki’s Tommy Hill is also unbelievably tough, he’s like a terrier. He’s such a tenacious rider, I think he’d get round even if you took one of his wheels off! You can never discount him.
Neil Hodgson is returning from this States this year and riding for Motorpoint Yamaha. He’s won before, albeit ten years ago, but he’s not back to play around and he should have the credentials to do the job.
An outside bet is the other Motorpoint Yamaha rider, Dan Linfoot. He’s blindingly fast and although I wouldn’t back him for the championship, he’ll be a thorn in the established rider’s sides this season.Brands Hatch is the amphitheatre of motor racing, it’s the traditional opening round and it’s popular with both fans and riders. It’s a beautiful circuit, it’s got a bit of everything – ups, downs, fast corners – a really interesting ride and most of the guys on the grid will know it well.”
Round One – Brands Hatch:
Monday 5 April
1230-1730 LIVE on British Eurosport 2
2100-2230 Highlights on British Eurosport 2
2330-0100 Highlights on British Eurosport
Tuesday 6 April
1500-1630 Highlights on British Eurosport 2
1900-2030 Highlights on British Eurosport 2
Wednesday 7 April
0900-0930 Race One on British Eurosport 2
0930-1000 Race Two on British Eurosport 2
1200-1300 Highlights on British Eurosport
1730-1830 Highlights on British Eurosport 2
1 comment so far
1 Vince Wright // Apr 18, 2010 at 7:10 am
Great main races and some brilliant action in the support races. Did you see Danny Buchan in the junior superstock hold on to a massive highside, but landing on the screen, whcih boke off and tucked down his leathers. He also landed on the ignition key, killing the ignition as he entered the gravel. He was trying to bend the key straight so that he could restart, as he carreered through the gravel. Jack Burnicle thought that he was turning off the ignition, which would have been a strange thing to do, whilst trying to keep the bke upright in the sand
Great day – looking forward to Thruxton