If ever there was such a thing as a ‘new era’ in British Superbike racing, the new season for 2008 marks one of those times. For one thing, control of the series passes into new hands. The UK branch of Spanish-based Dorna, MotoGP’s organising company, gives way to the MotorSport Vision group. MSV owns the Brands Hatch, Oulton Park, Snetterton and Cadwell Park circuits, and is run by Dr Jonathan Palmer, former Grand Prix racing driver for such as the Tyrrell team. For another thing, a new ‘control tyre’ ruling comes into force, which means all motorcycles will compete with Pirelli rubber - a formula which has helped competition in the World Championship, but of course leaves long-term BSB supporters Dunlop out in the cold.

There are the technical regulations for Superbike racing, which now allow twin-cylinder engines of up to 1200cc. The twins used to be 1000cc as opposed to the 750cc four-cylinders, but in 2002 the British series pioneered the formula which allowed the fours to also have a one-litre upper limit. Since then, Ducati’s twins have had stiff competition worldwide from the Japanese fours, but now Ducati can field their new 1098R racing model. Could this end the two-year spell of HRC-backed Honda titles in the UK?

An unfortunate development is the lack of planned UK terrestrial television coverage. The BBC helped pioneer the revival of BSB, with its package of highlights from every meeting in the series, starting in 1996. The BBC were concentrating on their televising of MotoGP by the time BSB was dropped, after the 2004 season, but Channel 4 stepped in for a year; and then there was ITV live coverage from most meetings for the last two seasons. Apparently this kind of service to the public is no longer possible.

Out on the track there are further big changes. Several major name riders have moved on to bigger things, leaving room for some of the UK’s more promising youngsters to graduate to the premier class of domestic competition. Leaving the series are the two recent major foreign competitors. The champion for the last two years, Honda man Ryuichi Kiyonari from Japan, goes to WSB. 2005 British champion Gregorio Lavilla, from Spain, goes over to the same series - where he came fifth in 2003. Leading British riders Jonathan Rea, Tommy Hill and Chris Walker, the latter after just one year back in BSB, become World Supersport riders. Paul Bird’s Superbike team, known in recent years as MonsterMob Ducati and Stobart Honda, also moves to the World stage - with rider Lavilla.

The top riders who remain in BSB have shuffled places. Leon Haslam (pictured in 2007) switches from Airwaves Ducati (GSE Racing) to major rivals HM Plant Honda. Shane Byrne, former Stobart man, takes his place; and fellow 2007 Honda rider Leon Camier also joins Airwaves. Haslam’s new partner is Cal Crutchlow, in from the Rizla Suzuki team. Thus, the top pair of BSB teams have all-new rider line-ups for 2008, and the same is true for Rizla. Tom Sykes was with Stobart last year, and his team-mate will be Japanese import Atsushi Watanabe. Following in the footsteps of Yukio Kagayama, Watanabe has raced mostly at home for Suzuki and will have a lot to learn, although he scored points as a WSB wildcard in 2003.

The experienced riders include Karl Harris, moving to Rob McElnea’s Yamaha team; ‘veteran’ Michael Rutter, moving to a North West 200 Ducati; James Haydon and Scott Smart, both staying with Hawk Kawasaki; and Steve Plater, staying with AIM Yamaha. Returning riders include Stuart Easton, whose biggest achievements have been in British Supersport, where he was 2002 champion. He gets a Superbike ride for his 2007 team MSS-Discovery Kawasaki, joined by 2006 Virgin Yamaha man Billy McConnell. The promising Australian was R6 Cup champion the year before, and fourth in Supersport last year.

Michael Laverty has already had two good BSB seasons, with the Stobart Honda team, but last year was dominant in the Supersport series. He races for Relentless Suzuki by TAS. The 2004 BSB Cup champion, for privateers, returns home with Hydrex-Bike Animal Honda. James Ellison has had 2½ years in MotoGP, and last year had a best result of sixth in a season of AMA Superbike racing, in the US. His partner will be roads specialist Guy Martin, who did selected BSB races for Hydrex last season.

Brother of James, Dean Ellison returns from WSB with Co-ordit Yamaha; and other BSB riders to reappear are Simon Andrews (Lloyds British Jentin Yamaha), Tristan Palmer (TENA for Men Honda), Aaron Zanotti (Red Viper Honda), and David Johnson (PR Branson Honda). Then there is Chris Burns, whose STP team field the first MV Agusta to compete in BSB. Irishman Brian McCormack joins the series with TAG Honda MAC Racing; and promising youngster Adam Jenkinson arrives in BSB with SMT Honda, after two years in Superstock, and previously with R6 Cup race wins.

The privateer ranks still include Tom Tunstall (Hardinge Ice Valley Motorsport), Malcolm Ashley (MAR-ARP Kawasaki), James Buckingham (Quay Honda) and Michael Howarth (TENA for Men Honda); with Luke Quigley (PDM Racing) making a return. New to BSB will be Steve Mercer (Bob Farnham Tuning), who has raced in the R6 Cup and British Superstock; and Martin Jessopp (Riders Honda), whose path has been the R6 Cup, Superstock Cup, and British Supersport for the last three seasons. Like McCormack, Jessopp made one BSB appearance in 2007.

The stage is set, and all that remains is for the racing itself to kick off. Brands Hatch is the venue, next weekend, but who will come out on top? Leon Haslam should be favourite, but will he find he’s chosen the wrong time to leave Ducati? If so, Shane Byrne is the only former champion in the field, and his best success has always been with Ducati machinery. But maybe the uniform tyres will even out competition between the different makes. Join us here to find out.

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