BSB: Honda UK becomes the title sponsor of the British Talent Cup

The British Talent Cup will have a new look this season with Honda UK joining as the championship’s title sponsor. 

The series, launched in 2018, hopes to give young British riders the chance to step onto the Grand Prix racing ladder, through the Road to MotoGP programme. 

Riders aged 12-17 can enter the British Talent Cup, which is the sole British Moto3 Championship class. The technical regulations mirror the highly-successful European Talent Cup (Dorna), which exclusively runs standard specification Honda NSF250R motorcycles. It’s this ruling that makes the series an even playing field.

Neil Fletcher, Head of Motorcycles at Honda UK commented: “We are proud to be announced as the Title Partner for this key support championship to the highly popular British Superbike race series.

“The British Talent Cup series provides a fantastic platform for young riders to put themselves on the road to stardom with the ultimate target of racing in the MotoGP World Championship.”

The British Talent Cup is one of the support series within the British Superbike Championship paddock and this year will be a five-round, 10-race championship – with all races televised. BSB Series Director Stuart Higgs commented: 

“The British Talent Cup has evolved this season and the new partnership with Honda UK shows this country’s combined commitment to working with Dorna to find the UK’s newest potential MotoGP talent.”

It’s not just points up for grabs this season either, with some serious prizes up for grabs. Dorna will be keeping a close eye on the series and will select one rider to compete in the 2021 FIM Moto3 Junior World Championship. Two other riders will also be selected to take part in the Red Bull Rookies Cup Selection Event for 2021. Making it to either of these championships is a big step in the right direction if you’re hoping to one day become a GP racer. 

Alongside live TV coverage here in the UK, Dorna will provide coverage on their global media platforms. Dorna representatives will also be at all British Talent Cup events, providing rider coaching support.

Carmelo Ezpeleta, CEO of Dorna Sports, said: “We are very happy to see Honda take on this important role in the British Talent Cup. Honda are such an incredible force in motorcycle racing, and we have already had the pleasure of partnering with them in a number of Road to MotoGP programmes.

“It makes me proud to see our relationship strengthen once again, this time as part of the British Talent Cup as we work to create more solid foundations for the champions of the future.”

This year’s series includes a prize fund which will be awarded to the top 10 finishers in each race. Alongside that, Dunlop will offer the podium finishers a prize of front and/or rear tyres. There will also be an end of season prize fund presented to the top three riders in the final overall standings. 

The British Talent Cup’s 2020 riders tested at Jerez at the beginning of March, with Casey O’Gorman setting the pace ahead of Evan Belford and Charlie Farrer. Following a delayed start to proceedings because of the coronavirus pandemic, the riders return to action for an official test at Silverstone on July 17.

The first round of the 2020 season takes place at Donington Park, on the National circuit, on August 7-9. The series then heads to Snetterton, Silverstone, Donington Park (GP) and Brands Hatch (GP).