Six of the world’s leading manufacturers are lining up to contest the Bennetts British Superbike Championship in 2022. A stacked grid of riders includes World Champions, British Champions, race winners and series rookies and the competition is as intense as ever in Britain’s biggest motorsport series ahead of the Easter season opener at Silverstone.
Here is what the motorcycling manufacturers are looking ahead to in 2022 Bennetts BSB:
YAMAHA
Yamaha start the 2022 season as the reigning champions bidding for consecutive titles, following McAMS Yamaha claiming their first Superbike title last year with Tarran Mackenzie. They return this season, brandishing the coveted number one plate, but can Mackenzie replicate his Father Niall again, and give Yamaha back-to-back-titles in 2022.
Big opposition came from his teammate Jason O'Halloran in 2021, the Australian claiming the most race wins across the season, and giving the Japanese manufacturer plenty to celebrate during the campaign. Whilst McAMS Yamaha bid to hold on to the number one plate, they will also have new Yamaha rivals this season, as the Rich Energy OMG Racing team switch manufacturer, with race winners Bradley Ray and Kyle Ryde joining the Yamaha fold.
Lee Neesham, Country Manager, Yamaha Motor UK said: “Yamaha Motor UK is excited to head in to the 2022 Bennetts British Superbike Championship as we look to defend the rider, manufacturer and team titles we won last year with Tarran Mackenzie, Jason O’Halloran and McAMS Yamaha. We are also pleased to welcome the Rich Energy OMG Racing team to the Yamaha family for 2022, and are looking forward to what Bradley Ray and Kyle Ryde can achieve with the R1.
“British Superbikes is without doubt one of the most competitive national series in the world and a great platform to showcase the capabilities of Yamaha and the R1. The excitement is now building for the start of the season and we look forward to sharing in this excitement with all of the BSB fans across the UK.”
DUCATI
The manufacturer that pushed Yamaha closest for the title last season was Ducati. The Italian factory is globally renowned for their passion for racing and with the most title wins in Bennetts BSB, one of the heavyweights of the championship.
Winchester-based dealership team Oxford Products Racing Ducati claimed second place last season with Tommy Bridewell, and together they return this season. The most successful team in the championship, PBM, also return aiming to add an unprecedented ninth title to their record. A trio of riders represent the Bologna factory in 2022 and with Bridewell, plus former World Superbike Champion Tom Sykes and double Bennetts BSB Champion Josh Brookes paired at MCE Ducati, they are gunning to add to their tally.
Fabrizio Cazzoli, Managing Director, Ducati UK said: “Ducati are looking forward to another season of exciting British Superbike racing. Racing is part of Ducati’s DNA and BSB is part of Ducati’s racing heritage with numerous titles and races wins over the years.
“This year Ducati will be hoping to reclaim the title, having tasted victory most recently in 2019 and 2020 with the PBM team. PBM are the most successful team in the series, and will again have a strong line-up with double championship winner Josh Brookes and Tom Sykes, a rider with World Championship pedigree, joining the Ducati family.
“Ducati will also have high hopes for our dealer Moto Rapido who will again compete as the Oxford Product Racing Ducati team with Tommy Bridewell. Tommy has come so close with runner up and third place finishes and will no doubt be pushing hard to bring that first title home to the Winchester-based dealer.
“The Ducati presence in the series is further enhanced with the Ducati TriOptions Cup that continues with its eleventh year as a support championship.”
BMW MOTORRAD
Last season, BMW Motorrad was the third placed manufacturer in the Riders’ Championship and with ten riders lining up for the German automotive giant, this could be their strongest season to date as they bid for their first Superbike title.
Peter Hickman was the highest placed BMW rider in last year’s standings, taking BMW Motorrad to the top of the podium during the season, and he returns with FHO Racing BMW alongside new signing Ryan Vickers. The paring will face the opposition from their BMW rivals though, including SYNETIQ BMW Motorrad’s unchanged line up of Danny Buchan and Andrew Irwin, the team who claimed the first podium finish for the new M 1000 RR at the second round last year.
The iForce BMW team have expanded their line-up on the grid to a three-pronged attack for 2022, with experienced contender Dan Linfoot joined by series rookie Dan Jones, and Fraser Rogers, who returns for his first full season in the series after recent Superstock campaigns.
Crowe Racing BMW, former title winners for the manufacturer in the Superstock class, step up to the Superbike grid with Chrissy Rouse, whilst NP Racing BMW complete the line up with former support class contenders Sam Cox and Joe Sheldon-Shaw.
Scott Grimsdall, Head of Marketing, BMW Motorrad UK said: “This promises to be one of the most competitive British Superbike seasons yet, featuring more BMW machinery on the Superbike grid than ever.
“2021 saw race wins and podiums for the new M 1000 RR and, with a year’s worth of data to build upon, we’re hopeful that the teams can achieve even more.
“With a mixture of exciting young talent and experienced ‘Showdown’ racers, the rider line-ups across all BMW teams are undoubtedly capable of delivering. We can’t wait for the season to begin.”
HONDA
The mighty Honda meanwhile also have an expanded presence on the 2022 Bennetts BSB grid as they celebrate the 30th Anniversary of the Fireblade, with six lining up for the new campaign.
The Honda Racing team remaining with an unchanged line-up from last season with Showdown contender Glenn Irwin and Japanese riders Ryo Mizuno and Takumi Takahashi back for a second season. The trio are joined by Honda’s reigning Superstock champion, Tom Neave, who will make his full-time debut in the series this year as the Louth-based team bid to add to their tally of four BSB titles.
The Honda representation also features another previous race winner, as Luke Mossey returns at TAG Honda, whilst Luke Hopkins and Black Onyx Security Honda completes the six riders featured on the grid for the Japanese manufacturer.
Neil Fletcher, Head of Motorcycles at Honda UK said: “2022 presents a number of big milestones for the Honda Racing UK team, one of which is the latest 30th Anniversary model of the iconic Fireblade, which is represented on the livery of the teams’ CBR1000RR-R Fireblade SP machines, as well as the rider leathers throughout the BSB season.
“Following Tom Neave’s fantastic victory in the Pirelli National Superstock Championship last year, we are delighted to see Tom step up into the premier class alongside Glenn Irwin, Ryo Mizuno and Takumi Takahashi. Glenn is determined to be in the title fight after showing real potential with wins and podiums aboard the Fireblade SP in both the 2020 and 2021 seasons. Ryo and Takumi return with a years’ worth of circuit and bike knowledge and both riders are keen to move up the pack and score regular points this season.
“Running four bikes in the Superbike class is a first for the Honda team and one that shows Honda UK’s commitment to the super competitive British Championship. It’s great to see some big names returning to the championship which further highlights the attractiveness of the series. Like everyone, we can’t wait for the season to get started and welcome full crowds back to all the circuits.
“It’s also a fantastic stage to nurture and develop young talent through our Honda Superbike Challenge Programme which is designed to support racers competing in national championships worldwide, to take further steps in their racing careers.
“Finally and as importantly, we’re delighted to see more Fireblades line up on the grid across the premier classes and to continue our support to TAG Honda and Padgetts Racing.”
KAWASAKI
Kawasaki have the second largest representation on the 2022 grid with seven riders, with their official entry of FS-3 Racing Kawasaki maintaining their line-up of Lee Jackson and Rory Skinner, both of who scored podium finishes last year.
Their entry is bolstered further by the return of their 2018 Champion Leon Haslam as he joins forces with Lee Hardy Racing’s VisionTrack Kawasaki team for the new campaign, bidding to take Team Green back to the top of the title fight.
Road racing ace Dean Harrison continues his short circuit racing experience with the newly-branded DAO Racing Kawasaki team, Storm Stacey continues his progress returning with Team LKQ Euro Car Parts Kawasaki and Rapid CDH Racing Kawasaki complete the line up with Josh Owens and rookie Liam Delves.
Ross Burridge, Head of Marketing & Racing Department, Kawasaki Motors UK said: “The strength of the British Superbike series has never been more evident in the last couple of years, not only in surviving the strains placed upon it by Covid-19, but now also in terms of attracting some of the biggest names in British motorcycle racing.
“We have been working hard with our official entry, FS-3 Racing Kawasaki over the winter in developing their Ninja ZX-10RR’s to hopefully give Lee Jackson and Rory Skinner the best chance of success this season and believe both riders will surprise the rest of the grid throughout this year.
“In addition, we are pleased to welcome back ex-Champion, Leon Haslam to Kawasaki with the experienced Lee Hardy Racing Team. We are excited to see how Leon’s return will unfold as he does battle with the extensive field of talented competition we see in the series this year.
“We also work closely with the LKQ Euro Car Parts team and Storm Stacey, who has been quietly going about his business building on his results since graduating to the Superbike class. Team Green is all about assisting young riders moving through the Championship and Storm is a great example of one of the next generation coming through, we can expect to see him continue his ascend towards the top this year I’m sure.”
SUZUKI
The final manufacturer to feature in the 2022 entry list is Suzuki; the Japanese manufacturer returning to winning form last year at Donington Park and also claiming podium finishes before rider injury hampered the end of their season.
The Buildbase Suzuki team remain one of the most experienced on the grid and with former Moto3 World Champion Danny Kent back from injury and joined by race winner Christian Iddon, they will be targeting more in 2022.
Suzuki will also be represented with dealer-based team Powerslide/Catfoss Suzuki and Bjorn Estment, whilst an all-new team features in their Superbike line up for the new season as Specsavers Suzuki step up from the Superstock class with Leon Jeacock onboard.
Ian Bland, Suzuki GB Head of Motorcycle Marketing said: “We get excited ahead of every BSB season and this year is no different. Racing is, obviously, a huge part of Suzuki’s heritage, as is racing in the British championship, and we’ve fielded some of the most iconic teams in the championship’s history.
"Last year yielded some bad luck for the Buildbase Suzuki team, with Danny Kent missing more than half of the season through injury, but the GSX-R was again a race-winner, and we’re looking forward to more successes in 2022.
"In the Buildbase Suzuki/Hawk Racing team we have one of the most experienced on the grid, and in Danny and Christian Iddon, one of the most talented rider line-ups, too. They don’t hand out world championships, and so Danny’s pedigree is without question, even if he’s still adapting to a superbike, while in Christian we have one of the most experienced riders on the grid, and a rider that has been in the title fight until the final round for the last two seasons.
“Away from the official team we also have Bjorn Estment aboard the Powerslide Suzuki - the racing team of our popular Stoke-on-Trent-based dealership - and Leon Jeacock on the striking Specsavers Suzuki, adding to our representation on the grid. So, there are plenty of GSX-Rs to root for, and we’re looking forward to another season of competitive racing.”
