As we reach the festive season and Christmas and the New Year beckon, MSVR would like to thank everyone who supported the 2023 Bennetts British Superbike Championship across the world.
We would like to thank all of our fans globally for their passionate support, the tens of thousands of fans who visited each round of the season to watch the action trackside and the tens of millions of fans who watched the action through our live and highlights broadcast packages on television. We hope that you enjoyed the 2023 season and we thank you for your interaction through our social media channels.
The 2023 season produced some sensational races across the classes and we thank the riders and teams who continue to provide the entertainment and incredible action at every round. Their continued commitment and professionalism continue to make Bennetts BSB one of the most respected and leading motorsport championships on the planet.
We were treated to a season that will surely never be surpassed as the closest finish in Bennetts BSB history as Tommy Bridewell and Glenn Irwin took the battle for the title to the final lap of the last race of the season, ending separated by half a point. A poignant result for the PBM Team, their ninth title victory and a 1-2 in the standings to pay the best tribute possible to their late Team Owner Paul Bird who very sadly passed away in September. The Bennetts BSB community will always fondly remember him for his dedication and passion for the sport we all love. Of course, for Tommy his first title victory was a tribute to his late brother Ollie on a memorable final day of the season it was for everyone involved and watching at the track and on the television.
There has been some intense competition this season, with each of the manufacturers celebrating a podium finish, notably represented by ten different teams, demonstrating the continued strength of the championship and the level of competition derived from the series technical regulations.
Over the season there were six different race winners and a further six podium finishers, showing the level of competition at Bennetts BSB. There was also some fantastic racing in the support classes and we also toast all of our support class champions.
Bennetts are a valued title sponsor of the series and we are delighted that we continue our partnership with them for a further two years, making them the most dedicated title sponsor in the championship history. We would like to thank them for their commitment to the sport and to giving our fans special loyalty offers through their continued Bennetts BikeSocial membership programme.
Our sincere appreciation also goes out to all our commercial and media partners, who are an integral part of the series.
The Bennetts BSB show would simply not be possible without the race organisation officials, the dedication and skills of the Herock Racesafe marshals and our outstanding medical team.
We look ahead to next season with anticipation as we countdown to the opening round of 2024, which will kick off at MSV’s newest venue, Circuito de Navarra on April 20 – 21, following an official test schedule which includes a Donington Park on April 6 - 7.
We can’t wait for the new season, with some new exciting classes debuting in 2024 including the Pirelli National Sportbike Championship and the Tracker Kawasaki British Superteen Championship. We look forward with anticipation to the return of the Bennetts British Superbike Championship with a shakeup of the grid, the return of the number one plate, as some of the series’ leading contenders line up against the young guns and some new rookies - it should be another blockbuster!
Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year
Stuart Higgs
Series Director, Bennetts British Superbike Championship