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BSB blog 2009 – plenty of sub plots

09 January 2009 by Gary Pinchin

BSB blog 2009 – plenty of sub plots

It may be a long way off to the start of the British Superbike season – and it’ll seem even longer with a predicted cutback in pre-season testing. But that hasn’t stopped talk in the MCN office about...

HM Plant Honda will run two superbikes

08 January 2009 by Gary Pinchin

HM Plant Honda will run two superbikes

HM Plant Honda team boss Neil Tuxworth has scotched rumours suggesting that their superbike effort would be slashed to just one rider for the forthcoming season. Rumours have persisted that Josh...

Harley-Davidson announce XR1200 prize money and tyre details

06 January 2009 by Rob Hull

Harley-Davidson announce XR1200 prize money and tyre details

Harley-Davidson has confirmed today that the one-make XR1200 series that will run as part of British Superbike weekends in 2009 will have Dunlop solely supplying tyres for the championship. Dunlop,...

Can I have my bike back please?

06 January 2009 by kev cooper

Can I have my bike back please?

Here is a photo sequence of Karl Harris getting a face full of Tom Sykes’s Rizla Suzuki in BSB

Llewellyn to make track comeback?

03 January 2009 by Gary Pinchin

Llewellyn to make track comeback?

Former BSB racer Matt Llewellyn is contemplating a comeback to racing – in the all-new Harley-Davidson XR1200 Trophy that will at BSB meetings this year. It is three years since Llewellyn, now 40,...

Stuart Higgs: "We've got more champions than last year"

01 January 2009

Stuart Higgs: "We've got more champions than last year"

British Superbike Series Organiser, Stuart Higgs, has said there is more established talent in the championship for 2009 despite losing the top four from 2008. When 2008 Champion Shane Byrne and Leon...

BSB Review: Best race in pictures

01 January 2009 by MCN News Desk

BSB Review: Best race in pictures

Shane Byrne was expected to take the title at Croft but a massive high-side during the second free practice session on Friday left the champion-elect battered and bruised. Byrne passed fit to...

Extra BSB races at Oulton and Brands

31 December 2008 by Gary Pinchin

Extra BSB races at Oulton and Brands

Two of the 2009 British Superbike Championship rounds will feature a new-look three race BSB format – boosting the series to 26 races over the 12 championship rounds. Series organisers MSVR have...

Superstock price-capped

31 December 2008 by Gary Pinchin

Superstock price-capped

MSVR, the BSB series organisers, have announced that there will be a price cap placed on machines eligible for the Superstock 1000cc class in 2009. The MCRCB, the rulemaking body for the MSVR-run...

The changing weight regulation timeline

31 December 2008 by Rob Hull

The changing weight regulation timeline

When British Superbike organisers adapted the minimum weight regulation for V-twins in May it sparked the biggest riot in recent BSB history. Here’s how it all happened. February Jonathan Palmer...

Can I have my bike back please

30 December 2008 by Kev Cooper

Can I have my bike back please

This I will never forget caught the start of it and then the straw bails as the bike stopped infront of me

KTM announce RC8 series rules

30 December 2008 by Gary Pinchin

KTM announce RC8 series rules

KTM has now announced the full rules package for the 2009 RC8 Cup, which will run at BSB meetings and replaces the highly-successful Superduke series that ran for two seasons. KTM’s Event Manager...

BSB Review: The moment that made us wince, in pictures

29 December 2008 by Rob Hull

BSB Review: The moment that made us wince, in pictures

One of the most unforgettable moments of the 2008 British Superbike campaign was this almighty off at Thruxton back in April. Do you think you’d be able to get up and walk away from being slammed in...

BSB Review: Difficult first season for Atsushi Watanabe

28 December 2008 by Rob Hull

BSB Review: Difficult first season for Atsushi Watanabe

Atsushi Watanabe may have arrived in Britain with a glowing reference and a CV good enough to make any Superbike team salivate, but the two-time Japanese Superbike champion had a difficult opening...

BSB Review: Why Tom Sykes is the most promising

27 December 2008 by Rob Hull

BSB Review: Why Tom Sykes is the most promising

Tom Sykes might have finished fourth in the championship, but a late performance surge and impressive wildcards made him one of the hottest properties to come out of BSB in 2008. Sykes had a torrid...

Alistair Kennedy: Why we didn't go with Ducati

23 December 2008 by Rob Hull

Alistair Kennedy: Why we didn't go with Ducati

Alistair Kennedy has spoken out about the decision to take North West 200 backing to Rob McElnea’s Yamaha team over forming his own squad and running Ducati machinery. Kennedy was contemplating...

Leon Camier takes on gold medal-winning cyclist

23 December 2008 by Rob Hull

Leon Camier takes on gold medal-winning cyclist

Three-time British Superbike race winner Leon Camier took time out of his training regime to go head-to-head in a cycling contest with Beijing Olympic double gold winning sprinter, Jason Kenny. The...

Video: GSE Racing workshop tour

22 December 2008 by Rob Hull

Video: GSE Racing workshop tour

As well as changing manufacturer to Yamaha from Ducati for 2009, GSE Racing has also moved into a new headquarters. The 2008 British Superbike Champions have moved into the former HQ of the Petronas...

James Ellison hoping for extended GSE career

22 December 2008 by Rob Hull

James Ellison hoping for extended GSE career

James Ellison has told MCN that he’d love to race for GSE Racing for more than just 2009. The 28-year old penned a year-long contract with the 2008 British Superbike Championship winning team. But in...

Shane Byrne: “No Ducati is sad for the fans”

18 December 2008 by Rob Hull

Shane Byrne: “No Ducati is sad for the fans”

Reigning British Superbike Champion Shane Byrne says the championship will be missing an important element without the presence of Ducati in 2009. Byrne took his second BSB title this season and his...

BSB title winning bikes for sale

17 December 2008 by Rob Hull

BSB title winning bikes for sale

How does a British Superbike championship winning Ducati 1098 sound to you? Well owning one could well become a reality because GSE Racing has all four of their ’08 British Superbike machines up for...

Ducati UK confirm BSB split

17 December 2008 by Rob Hull

Ducati UK confirm BSB split

It’s official: there will be no top Ducati team in British Superbikes in 2009. A statement has been released by Ducati to confirm they will not have any representation in the championship next...

Rob Mac confirms 2009 team

17 December 2008 by Rob Hull

Rob Mac confirms 2009 team

Rob McElnea will have a busy 2009 after confirming his full line-up for next season. A new Superbike, new sponsors and four new riders have come on board with McElnea as he goes in search of his...

GSE -Airwaves deal continues

17 December 2008 by Rob Hull

GSE -Airwaves deal continues

GSE Racing, arguably the most successful team in the modern era of the British Superbike Championship, will continue to be sponsored by chewing gum brand Airwaves in 2009, continuing an association...

Michael Rutter joins Chris Walker at Rob Mac Yamaha

16 December 2008 by Rob Hull

Michael Rutter joins Chris Walker at Rob Mac Yamaha

Michael Rutter will partner Chris Walker in a resurgent Rob Mac Racing Yamaha team next year which means there will be no major Ducati team in BSB for the first time since the series was revamped in...

No Ducati in BSB

16 December 2008 by Rob Hull

No Ducati in BSB

Ducati will not have a major presence in the British Superbike Championship in 2009 for the first time since the series was launched in its present form in 1995, it has emerged today. The Italian...

Crescent boss says Suzuki WRC split won’t have affect

15 December 2008 by Rob Hull

Crescent boss says Suzuki WRC split won’t have affect

Crescent Suzuki Team Manager Jack Valentine said Suzuki’s withdrawal from the World Rally Championship will not have any affect on his official Suzuki British Superbike team’s budget. Suzuki announced...

Michael Rutter: “It was like being taken hostage”

12 December 2008 by Rob Hull

Michael Rutter: “It was like being taken hostage”

Michael Rutter said his ordeal stuck out in Thailand for a week was like being in prison after the 26-time British Superbike race winner was stranded at Bangkok airport. Rutter had stayed out in...

MSS Colchester Kawasaki into future development

11 December 2008 by Rob Hull

MSS Colchester Kawasaki won’t just be running in BSB next season; they will continue their development with 16-year old Jess Trayler in the Superstock 600 championship. Trayler was snatched up by Morgan following his 5th place finish in the Aprilia Superteens championship and 4th overall in the ACU standings in 2006 – his first full season on a road bike. And the lanky 50kg youngster went from...

John Laverty joins Tristan Palmer at Buildbase Kawasaki

11 December 2008 by Rob Hull

John Laverty joins Tristan Palmer at Buildbase Kawasaki

2008 British Superbike Cup Champion John Laverty will join Tristan Palmer at Stuart Hicken’s Kawasaki team, which will now run under the name Buildbase Kawasaki. Laverty brings with him the title...

Leon Camier heads to Oz to train with Casey Stoner

10 December 2008 by Rob Hull

Leon Camier heads to Oz to train with Casey Stoner

Following the successful training period last year in Australia with good friend Casey Stoner, Leon Camier flies down under again today for three months with the 2007 MotoGP Champion. Camier spent a...

2009 British Superbike calendar announced

10 December 2008 by Rob Hull

2009 British Superbike calendar announced

The 2009 British Superbike calendar has finally been announced, with the biggest change being the Brands Hatch GP round being held in the height of the summer. Brands Hatch will not be hosting a World...

Sykes meets Sykes

09 December 2008 by Martin Sykes

Sykes meets Sykes

Josh Sykes from Huddersfield meets his hero Tom Sykes from Huddersfield at Brands Hatch.

BSB Web Blog: Is Michael Rutter too old for BSB?

09 December 2008 by Rob Hull

BSB Web Blog: Is Michael Rutter too old for BSB?

I understand why Ducati said they wanted to base their BSB assault around a young rider like Brendan Roberts who’s deal to come to the British Championship fell through when the Australian preferred a...

Neil Tuxworth: Honda motorcycle racing safe

05 December 2008 by Rob Hull

Neil Tuxworth: Honda motorcycle racing safe

In the wake of Honda’s announcement last night that they have pulled their Formula One project and are selling the team, Honda Racing UK Manager for bikes Neil Tuxworth has spoken about the future of...

British Supersport 2009: Who to look out for

04 December 2008 by Rob Hull

British Supersport 2009: Who to look out for

The 2009 British Supersport paddock is starting to take shape. But who should you be looking out for next season? The 2008 Champion, Glen Richards, has been rewarded with a spot in the factory HM...