British Superbike News

This season we will see a 31 strong rider line-up of experienced and newcomers for the British Superbike Championship.

The HM Honda team have Leon Haslam as their number 1 rider who will be joined by the British Supersport Champion of 2006, Cal Crutchlow.

The Rizla Suzuki equipe team have ‘Rookie of the Year’ for 2007, Tom Sykes alongside Atsushi Watanabe, the Japanese double-Superbike Champion and a third runner, a Suzuki in Relentless colours, Michael Laverty, who is the reigning British Supersport Champion.

Airwaves Ducati have the veteran Shane ‘Shakey’ Byrne with team mate Leon Camier. They will be riding the latest racing version of the Italian bike, the 1098R.

MSS Discovery Kawasaki team have yet another Supersport title holder, Stuart Easton alongside the Australian, Billy McConnell.

Hydrex-Bike Animal Honda have Guy Martin, the renowned road racer with his team mate the former Moto GP rider, James Ellison, who’s elder brother, Dean Ellison, he will be competing against on the Co-ordit Yamaha.

Another former Supersport Champion, Karl Harris wil be racing for Team Yamaha, while the Hawk Kawasaki have Scott Smart and James Hayden. Michael Rutter will be riding for North West 200 Ducati team while the STP MV Agusta will have Chris Burns aboard.

The Superbike Privateer’s Cup also has a strong line-up with Malcolm Ashley, Tom Tunstall, Luke Quigley and Martin Jessopp.

The Bennetts British Superbike Championship begins the start of a 12 round series at Brands Hatch on Sunday 6th April 2008.

Here are the other teams and riders not mentioned above (P)=provisional:

Adam Jenkinson (SMT Honda), Simon Andrews (LLoyds British Jentin Yamaha), Steve Plater (AIM Yamaha), Tristan Palmer (TENA for men Honda), Michael Howarth (TENA for men Honda)(P), Martin Jessopp ( Riders Honda )(P), Luke Quigley (PDM Racing)(P), James Buckingham (Quay Honda)(P), Steve Mercer (Bob Farnham Tuning)(P), Aaron Zanotti (Red Viper Honda), David Johnson (PR Branson Honda), Brian McCormack (TAG Honda MAC Racing), Malcolm Ashley (MAR-ARP Kawasaki)(P), Tom Tunstall (Hardringe Ice Valley Motorsport)(P)