British Superbike 2008 – Entry List
Day A healthy mix of experience and young-guns hungry for success feature in the 31 strong rider line-up confirmed for this year’s Bennetts British Superbike Championship.
The HM Plant Honda team, who have powered the champion in each of the past two seasons have Leon Haslam taking over the top ride and he is joined by 2006 British Supersport champion Cal Crutchlow.
Both have been on the pace in testing but face strong opposition from the Rizla Suzuki equipe featuring 2007 ‘rookie of the year’ Tom Sykes, paired with double-Japanese Superbike Champion Atsushi Watanabe. A third Suzuki, running in Relentless colours, in the hands of reigning British Supersport Champion Michael Laverty will also pose a threat.
Shane Byrne, British Superbike Champion with Ducati five years ago, is back with the latest racing version of the Italian bike, the 1098R, for the Airwaves team alongside Leon Camier.
Stuart Easton, another former Supersport title winner, lines up for the factory-backed MSS Discovery Kawasaki team, with Australian Billy McConnell as his teammate.
Guy Martin, renowned for his road racing abilities, rides for Hydrex–Bike Animal Honda alongside former MotoGP rider James Ellison, who has his elder brother Dean as a rival on the Co-ordit Yamaha.
Karl Harris, the fourth former Supersport champion on the grid, rides for Team Yamaha, while there is wealth of experience in the Hawk Kawasaki line-up in the shape of Scott Smart and James Haydon. Michael Rutter rides for the North West 200 Ducati team, while Chris Burns is aboard the STP MV-Agusta.
The Superbike Privateers Cup has a strong entry list, with Malcolm Ashley having Russian backing for his ARP Kawasaki as he takes on the likes of Tom Tunstall, Luke Quigley and Martin Jessopp.
The 12 round Bennetts British Superbike Championship begins at Brands Hatch on Sunday 6 April.
| NO | RIDER | NAT | HOME TOWN | TEAM |
2 | Leon Camier | GB | Wimborne | Airwaves Ducati |
3 | Stuart Easton | GB | Hawick | MSS-Discovery Kawasaki |
4 | Michael Laverty | GB | Toomebridge | Relentless Suzuki by TAS |
5 | Karl Harris | GB | Sheffield | RM Yamaha |
6 | James Haydon | GB | Berkhamsted | Hawk |
7 | James Ellison | GB | Kendal | Hydrex-Bike Animal Honda |
8 | Billy McConnell | AUS | Adelaide | MSS-Discovery Kawasaki |
9 | Guy Martin | GB | Kirmington | Hydrex-Bike Animal Honda |
11 | Adam Jenkinson | GB | Manchester | SMT Honda |
14 | Atsushi Watanabe | JPN | Rizla Suzuki | |
17 | Simon Andrews | GB | Evesham | Lloyds British Jentin Yamaha |
21 | Tom Tunstall | GB | Huddersfield | Hardinge Ice Valley Motorsport |
22 | Steve Plater | GB | Woodhall Spa | AIM Yamaha |
27 | Tristan Palmer | GB | Nuneaton | TENA for Men Honda |
33 | Michael Howarth | GB | Burnley | TENA for Men Honda (P) |
35 | Cal Crutchlow | GB | Coventry | HM Plant Honda |
40 | Martin Jessopp | GB | Yeovil | Riders Honda (P) |
51 | Luke Quigley | GB | Brierley Hill | PDM Racing (P) |
53 | Chris Burns | GB | Newcastle | STP – MV Agusta |
56 | James Buckingham | GB | Ilfracombe | Quay Honda (P) |
63 | Steve Mercer | GB | Maidstone | Bob Farnham Tuning (P) |
64 | Aaron Zanotti | GB | Loughborough | Red Viper Honda |
66 | Tom Sykes | GB | Huddersfield | Rizla Suzuki |
67 | Shane Byrne | GB | Zurich | Airwaves Ducati |
68 | David Johnson | AUS | Adelaide | PR Branson Honda |
88 | Scott Smart | GB | Maidstone | Hawk |
91 | Leon Haslam | GB | Derby | HM Plant Honda |
99 | Brian McCormack | IRL | Tramore | TAG Honda MAC Racing |
111 | Malcolm Ashley | GB | Stoke Golding | MAR–ARP Kawasaki (P) |
118 | Dean Ellison | GB | Leicester | Co-ordit Yamaha |
200 | Michael Rutter | GB | Brierley Hill | North West 200 Ducati |
FULL GRID AND NEW TITLE SPONSOR FOR BRITISH SUPERSPORT CHAMPIONSHIP
The 2008 British Supersport Championship, which is second only to the British Superbike Championship in terms of prestige, will be sponsored by the world’s largest specialist motorcycle and motorsport lubricants provider, Fuchs-Silkolene.
As well as the Supersport class title sponsorship, Fuchs-Silkolene also becomes the official oil and lubricants partner to the Bennetts British Superbike Championship.
Russell Kenyon, Sales and Marketing Director at Fuchs-Silkolene said: “This is an exciting time for Fuchs-Silkolene and we look forward to the forthcoming race season and our sponsorship of the British Supersport Championship. The continuing investment in the Silkolene range and this announcement of our new sponsorship deal will further demonstrate our commitment, and show how Fuchs-Silkolene continues to be at the forefront of the motorcycle lubricants industry.”
Stuart Higgs, BSB Series Director said: “Fuchs-Silkolene is a partner for a championship that significantly routes directly into BSB. They are a respected company across the sporting world and together we can grow this already thriving championship to new levels.”
This new announcement coincides with the release of the official series entry list which boasts 43 permanent riders, and for the first time official works-backed teams from five of the world’s leading motorcycle manufacturers; Honda, Kawasaki, Suzuki, Triumph and Yamaha.
Ian Lowry, runner-up to his team-mate Michael Laverty last year, is back with the Relentless Suzuki team for 2008 and is regarded by many as the pre-season favourite for the crown, although the Padgetts Honda team, with the experienced John McGuinness and highly talented James Webb, would argue differently.
Steve Brogan should feature in the equation riding the HM Plant Honda, while the Gearlink Kawasaki duo of Steven Neate and former Superbike Cup winner Chris Martin have been fast in testing. BJ Toal, the Virgin Media Cup winner of last year, rides for the Virgin Yamaha team alongside Nick Medd, while South African Hudson Kennaugh rides the Raceways-backed Yamaha R6 with teammate Ronan Quarmby.
The entry of factory-backed Triumphs adds further interest, with the twin Hinckley-based manufacturer fielding a twin pronged Australian attack of Triumph test rider Paul Young and reigning Superstock champion Glen Richards.
Adding further depth and quality to the entry, expect to see wildcard appearances from World Supersport regular Craig Jones, riding the Parkalgar Honda.
2 Ian Lowry Moira Relentless Suzuki by TAS Suzuki 600
3 Hudson Kennaugh South Africa Raceways Yamaha Yamaha 600
4 John McGuinness Morecambe Padgetts Batley Ltd Honda 600
5 Steven Neate Barton Le Clay Gearlink Kawasaki Kawasaki 600
6 James Webb Tunbridge Wells Padgetts Motorcycles Honda 600
16 Craig Sproston Southport C.S Racing Honda 600
17 Steve Brogan Liverpool HM Plant Honda Honda 600
18 Pete Spalding New Milton Linxcel-Seton Tuning Yamaha 600
19 Marshall Neill – C Portadown Marshall Neill Racing Suzuki 600
20 Daniel Cooper Stroud Centurion Racing Honda 600
21 David Hallett – C Folkestone TCG Motorsport Triumph 675
25 Dennis Hobbs Kelty Centurion Racing Honda 600
26 Chris Martin North Newbald Gearlink Kawasaki Kawasaki 600
27 James Westmoreland Hull Centurion Racing Honda 600
28 Andy Weymouth – C Brentwood Linxcel-Seton Tuning Yamaha 600
31 Sam Owens Stafford Premier Motorsport Honda 600
33 Aaron Walker Doncaster TJW Racing Honda 600
34 Ronan Quarmby South Africa Raceways Yamaha Yamaha 600
36 BJ Toal Omagh Virgin Media Yamaha Yamaha 600
37 James Hillier Ringwood Kawasaki 600
41 Ben Taylor – C Hornchurch M & B Motorsport Honda 600
43 Patrick McDougall – C Guildford Beowulf Racing Yamaha 600
44 Alastair Fagan – C Bristol Buff JHS Racing Triumph 675
45 Glen Richards Australia Map Embassy Racing Triumph 675
48 Joe Dickenson Chesterfield Trucklinks Yamaha Yamaha 600
49 Brendan Clarke Australia Buff JHS Racing Triumph 675
50 Ben Handley – C York AZ1 Racing Honda 600
51 Matt Whitham – C Swindon Matt Whitham Racing Honda 600
54 Jack Groves – C Swindon Kingswood Moto-Sport Yamaha 600
55 Ashley Beech Oldham Colin Appleyard / Macadam Racing Yamaha 600
58 Conor O’Brien Dublin Arkwood Honda Honda 600
67 Glynn Thomas – C Chelmsford GLT Racing Honda 600
74 Dean Hipwell – C Doncaster CDH Racing Yamaha 600
75 Craig Fitzpatrick – C Alfreton BLDS Yamaha 600
76 Ross Walter – C Lytchett Matravers Interserve Racing Triumph 675
77 Marty Nutt Castlerock Nutt Travel/T+G Yamaha 600
78 Alan O’Connor – C Cork Team MFC Racing Honda 600
84 Richard Harrison – C Darlington Harrison Bros Racing Yamaha 600
85 Jonathan Harrison – C Darlington Harrison Bros Racing Yamaha 600
93 Lee Chisnall – C Clacton on Sea LC Racing Kawasaki 600
94 Ben Wylie Market Drayton Wylie & Holland Racing Yamaha 600
96 Paul Young Australia Map Embassy Racing Triumph 675
525 Nick Medd York Virgin Media Yamaha Yamaha 600
C – British Supersport Cup
