Following the release of the provisional permanent entry lists by the series organisers, the promise of exciting, closely fought action in the supporting programme to the 13 rounds of country’s premier motor sport series, the Bennetts British Superbike Championship, is a certainty.
Stuart Easton, a former winner of the British Supersport title, returns with the MSS Discovery Kawasaki team in a determined effort to regain the ‘number one’ plates, but the talented Scot will be under severe pressure from the all-new Virgin Media Yamaha team with its top riders, Australian Billy McConnell, and last year’s Virgin Cup winner Tom Grant.
Michael Laverty, fresh from his experiences in the Superbike championship, heads up the Relentless Suzuki by TAS, challenge with Ian Lowry as his team-mate. John McGuinness and Dennis Hobbs ride for Padgetts Honda while last year’s unbeaten Supersport Cup winner Pete Spalding graduates into the main championship with the Centurion Honda team. Jamie Robinson lines up on the Bykerbabe Honda, while the Lowes twins, Sam and Alex, graduate from the British 125GP Championship along with Daniel Cooper, the reigning title holder. They face a former winner of that crown, Christian Elkin, together with Martin Jessop on the Riders Ducati.
The theme of youth and experience in the Supersport line-up is mirrored in the chase for honours in the British 125GP Championship, which incorporates the Dorna Academy Cup, a race within a race, designed to foster the careers of riders aged between 14 and 16 years. Michael Wilcox, a former title holder is back for more against youthful, highly talented riders including Anthony Rogers and Kev Coghlan, while lady racers Jenny Tinmouth, Catherine Green and 15 year old Omagh schoolgirl Nicole McAleer aim to turn on the speed and style.
Hudson Kennaugh, riding Raceways Yamaha, and his South African compatriot Allan Jon Ventnor, riding Hydrex Honda, mean business in the Metzeler Racetec National Superstock Championship in which the face Kiwi Hayden Fitzgerald along with an overflowing grid of ‘home’ runners including Ben Wilson, John Laverty and Kieran Clakre riding the latest 1098cc Ducatis in Buildbase colours and Steve Brogan aboard the Tengo Honda. Experienced racers including former champion Lee Jackson, Adrian Coates, Jon Kirkham, Victor Cox racing MV Augusta and Marshall Neill are all on the packed International starting list.
The popularity of Superstock action is underlined by a massive entry for the Metzeler Racetec National Cup featuring the big on power, production bikes, with some 50 riders registered for the season.
The new look Virgin Media Cup boasts a strong entry list – the one-make series for young, upcoming riders using Yamaha R6 bikes has an interesting mix of newcomers together with racers, including Midge Smart, BJ Toal and Kyle Kentish returning for another slice of the action which rewards the overall champion with a fully financed ride with the Virgin Media Yamaha team in the 2008 British Supersport Championship.
And, completing the busy programme is the new KTM 990 Super Duke Battle which will be decided over nine rounds, one of which will be held at the British MotoGP event at Donington Park, the entry list for this new category will be announced in the coming weeks.
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