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 Former champions Neil Hodgson and Ryuichi Kiyonari head the star-studded entry for this year’s MCE Insurance British Superbike Championship in association with Pirelli which begins with the double race Easter Monday round on the short, but demanding Brands Hatch Indy circuit.
Hodgson, a decade on from winning the title, en route to taking the World crown, has a wealth of experience from racing also in MotoGP and more recently American Superbikes before deciding to return to the country’s premier race series, riding for the Motorpoint Yamaha team.
"I’m glad to be back and our good fortune is that we have the bikes that GSE raced to the title last year – that is a big bonus," explained Hodgson who is back to fitness after a shoulder injury sustained in training last year. I saw the championship in action last season at Croft and was surprised how much bigger it was than when I raced in it before.
"The opposition looks really strong – every year, people say there are five or six riders who can win the title, but believe me, this time, there really are. It will be close, but testing has been good for me and the bike is superb," added Hodgson.
He will be under fire from the determined two times title winner Kiyonari who spearheads the HM Plant Honda bid for glory. The Japanese rider had four years with the Louth based team, winning the “number one” plates in 2006 and 2007 before moving into the World Championship.
"I feel that I am back at home now I am here with this team," he explained. "I have the same people working with me and everything around me is good. I am excited to be racing here, and although it will be hard, as there are many good riders in the championship, I want to win. I had some of my best times riding with this team and now I want that to continue," said Kiyonari.
Like Hodgson, who has the determined Dan Linfoot alongside him in the Motorpoint equipe, Kiyonari faces a tough in-team challenge in the shape of Australian Josh Brookes who finished fourth overall amid a difficult first campaign with the team.
"I have to maintain and build on the momentum of last year and now I am anxious and excited to get back racing," said Brookes.,"I am feeling positive from the start," added Brookes who is under no illusions of the strength of Kiyonari: "He wants to win, and so do I, but being a double champion shows how strong a rider he is – for both of us, winning the title is the target."
That is also top of the agenda for Swan Honda riders James Ellison, the runner-up last year, and Flying Scot Stuart Easton who finished that campaign in third place overall – they have both set fast times in pre-season testing and feel that this presents their best chance of maiden title glory.
Rivalling them on a 36 strong grid, featuring riders from five countries and Superbikes from eight of the World’s leading manufacturers, will be the return of crowd favourite Yukio Kagayama, riding for the Worx Crescent Suzuki team alongside local hero Tommy Hill. Michael Laverty and last year’s Superstock Champion Alastair Seeley ride similar bikes, but in Relentless colours while Simon Andrews and Privateers Cup winner Gary Mason ride for MSS Colchester Kawasaki, with John Laverty and Adam Jenkinson aboard Buildbase Kawasakis. Riders Racing field Ducatis for Michael Rutter and Martin Jessopp
The Evolution class, designed to reduce costs with a back to basics formula, sees BMW racing in the championship for the first time with Steve Brogan riding the Jentin prepared bike, while Splitlath enter Aprilias for the Burns brothers Chris and Joe, and there is a Redline backed KTM for James Edmeades.
There is free practice for the Superbikes on Friday and Saturday, the Swan Roll for Pole grid decider is on Sunday, with the two 30 lap races on Easter Monday. Around them there is a full supporting programme for solos and sidecars.
For the record
Superbike lap record: 1.1986 mile Indy circuit
Gregorio Lavilla, Ducati, 45.460secs, 94.91mph
Superbikes on track:
Friday 2 April
15.00-16.00 Free practice
Saturday 3 April
11.40-12.40 Free practice
15.00-15.40 Free practice
Sunday 4 April
10.00-10.50 Free practice
15.00-15.56 Swan Roll for Pole
Monday 5 April
09.20-09.35 Warm-up practice
13.15 Race one – 30 laps
16.20 Race two – 30 laps
Superbikes on television
British Eurosport 2
Monday 5 April
12.30-17.30 “Live” raceday
21.00-22.30 and 23.30-01.00 Highlights
Flashback
Round one British Superbikes, 13 April 2009
Race One
1 S Guintoli, Suzuki
2 G Richards, Honda
3 S Easton, Honda
Race Two
1 L Camier, Yamaha
2 S Guintoli, Suzuki
3 S Plater, Honda
Source: Superbike News
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