BSB: 28-strong entry list confirmed for 2018

The entry list for the 2018 Bennetts British Superbike Championship reveals 28 of the world’s finest riders will go head over what is set to be 12 action-packed rounds.

Heading the grid will be 2017 and six time British Superbike Champion, Shane ‘Shakey’ Byrne who will be out to make it seven this year, but it won’t be easy for the 84-time race winner with his Ducati Panigale V-Twin in its final year of development.

Leon Haslam will look to bounce back from his heart-breaking crash in the final round of 2017 to finally rid himself of the title of BSB’s perennial bridesmaid as he remains with the JG Speedfit Kawasaki team.

Aussie Josh Brookes will be keen to repeat his 2015 title success as he moves into the factory-backed McAMS Yamaha squad this year. Brookes finished second on the completely private, small-family run TAG Yamaha in 2017, but he’ll be looking to go one better when the 2018 season gets underway in just over a month’s time.

2017 marked a real rise of the young gun, led by Jake Dixon and Luke Mossey who both achieved their debut victories as they looked to become title fighters last year. They’ll be back for more, as will 2017 rookie of the year Bradley Ray who will be keen to secure his first Bennetts BSB race win this season.

Six full-time rookies will feature on the grid this year, including former World Supersport race winner Gino Rea, Kyle Ryde, double European Superstock Champion Sylvain Barrier, Tarran Mackenzie, Carl Phillips and Mason Law.  

Honda Racing’s Dan Linfoot and Jason O’Halloran will be hoping for improvements found with the CBR1000RR Fireblade during winter will pay off for them, while Tyco BMW will also be hoping to step up with Christian Iddon and Michael Laverty.

2018 Bennetts British Superbike Championship Entry List

Be Wiser Ducati	Shane Byrne	Great Britain	67
Be Wiser Ducati	Glenn Irwin	Great Britain	2
Buildbase Suzuki	Richard Cooper	Great Britain	47
Buildbase Suzuki	Bradley Ray	Great Britain	28
CF Motorsport Yamaha	Kyle Ryde	Great Britain	77
FS3 Racing Kawasaki	Danny Buchan	Great Britain	83
Gearlink Kawasaki	Carl Phillips	Great Britain	32
Honda Racing	Dan Linfoot	Great Britain	4
Honda Racing	Jason O’Halloran	Australia	22
JG Speedfit Kawasaki	Leon Haslam	Great Britain	91
JG Speedfit Kawasaki	Luke Mossey	Great Britain	12
McAMS Yamaha	Josh Brookes	Australia	25
McAMS Yamaha	Tarran Mackenzie	Great Britain	95
Moto Rapido Racing Ducati	Taylor Mackenzie	Great Britain	24
Movuno.com Halsall Racing Suzuki	Tommy Bridewell	Great Britain	46
OMG Racing Suzuki	Gino Rea	Great Britain	44
Platform Hire Yamaha	Aaron Zanotti	Great Britain	64
PR Racing Lloyd & Jones Bowker BMW	Jakub Smrz	Czech Republic	96
RAF Regular & Reserves Kawasaki	Jake Dixon	Great Britain	27
Ridersmotorcycles.com BMW	Martin Jessopp	Great Britain	40
Silicone Engineering Racing Kawasaki	Dean Harrison	Great Britain	5
Smiths Racing BMW	Peter Hickman	Great Britain	60
Smiths Racing BMW	Sylvain Barrier	France	20
TAG Racing Yamaha	James Ellison	Great Britain	11
TAG Racing Yamaha	Shaun Winfield	Great Britain	8
Tyco BMW	Michael Laverty	Great Britain	7
Tyco BMW	Christian Iddon	Great Britain	21
WD40 Kawasaki	Mason Law	Great Britain	55

Check out this week’s MCN for a full look at the 2018 Bennetts BSB grid!