Fans enjoy British Superbikes demo in Glasgow

The citizens of Glasgow gave a big, warm welcome to the stars of the Bennetts British Superbike Championship as they provided a spectacular show around the normally busy streets  – upwards of 10,000 people turned up to enjoy the action in George Square, at the heart of the city.

Twenty-two  riders, led by current series leader and defending champion Ryuichi Kiyonari and former title holder Gregorio Lavilla, took the to the course, rapidly built around the square, which was closed to traffic for the evening.

All of the major teams and riders from the championship took part, with the winners of the previous round, Jonathan Rea and Leon Haslam keen to show their speed. Virgin Yamaha went to the special effort of preparing a special Scottish bike in full Glasgow tartan livery for Tommy Hill while there was a rousing welcome for Stuart Easton, the Hawick rider who will be riding the Isilon MSS Kawasaki in this Sunday’s Knockhill round.

Ensuring a strong ‘local’ feel to the proceedings, former triple champion Niall Mackenzie, was back in action, while 125cc title hopefuls Robbie Stewart and Kev Coghlan demonstrated their bikes.

The thunderous roar of the Ducati MotoGP bike, as ridden to a race victory by Loris Capirossi during the 2005 season, was another show-stopper, with the finale, with all of the riders taking to the streets, the real spectacle of the evening.

The promotion was a huge success for Knokchill circuit who insiders said sold over £5000-worth of admission tickets during the evening, and for the BSB merchandiers who were said to have sold more tee-shirt etc than they had during the entire weekend at the recent Mondello BSB round.

The show moves on now to Knockhill, with the circuit working hard during the Glasgow event to promote this Sunday’s seventh round, practice for which begins on Friday, with qualifying on Saturday.