If you happened to miss the British Supebike season opener at Brands Hatch yesterday or if your country doesn’t televise it, we’ve got a couple of highlight videos so you can get your racing fix.

Shane Byrne made his return to the British championship taking the win in race 1 admist a pretty caotic race, that saw several spectacular crashes that included Michael Laverty, who amazingly walked away unharmed, while Australian Josh Brookes also had his own big one off that left him unable to compete in race 2.

Reigning Superbike champion Ryuichi Kiyonari lucked out when he suffered a mechanical issue just eight laps in. And if you’re wondering how former MotoGP rider John Hopkins fared, he finished just 17th in the first race.

Race 2 saw Tommy Hill take the win from an almost another sure victory by Byrnes despite nursing an injured elbow picked up in last week’s testing session, his win and second place in race 1 sent him to the top of the standings. Ryuichi Kiyonari took second and Brynes had to settle for third. Hopkins made a comeback to take 5th.

Continue reading: British Superbike Brands Hatch: Byrnes and Hill take one each (w/videos)

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John Hopkins will be getting a fresh start in racing after seven years in MotoGP, less than a season in WSBK’s and a somewhat sticky and controversial injured season in the AMA .

The Anglo-American rider according to Crescent Suzuki team manager Jack Valentine, will be racing in the British Superbike Championship in 2011 for his one rider squad.

“The guy has raw talent and has been on podium in MotoGP, so he has more pedigree than anyone else on the BSB grid. That’s why we started chatting to him. He is really focused and sees BSB as his stepping stone to get back to world level.” said Valentine speaking to Crash.net

Official announcement should be made at the end of the month along with the name of the title sponsor, and bets are on that the Monster Energy logo will be somewhere on that GSX-R 1000.

The first round of the BSB championship kicks off at Brands Hatch, April 22nd.

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Sometimes when there’s smoke, there’s also a burning pot roast in the oven and in this case the rumor concerning John Hopkin’s, who may be moving to the British Superbikes is true, as recently confirmed by Crescent Suzuki team manager Jack Valentine, with negotiations in an advanced stage.

Hopkins is still without a ride for 2011 after his fall out with Team Hammer owner John Ulrich, regarding the rider’s physical conditions in the course of the 2010 season, but apparently Valentine is convinced that Hopkins is fully recovered and wants and needs (budgets are tight for everyone), a big named rider and most of all his Monster Energy sponsorship money.

“I can say we are in talks with John and it is all looking very positive. He is a rider of great talent and although I wouldn’t expect him to necessarily challenge for the title, someone of his abilities should be able to get to the sharp end very quickly,” said Jack Valentine. “He knows what the deal is and why we would like him to come over. He is a high-profile rider, with a great personality, and it’s my belief he will be very good for the championship and someone for the fans to really cheer on.”

Source | bikesportnews.com

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With Althea Racing down to a one rider and the World Superbike paddock in a cost cutting mode, Shane Byrne will be returning to the British Superbike Championship and riding for HM Plant Honda next season.

HM Plant will effectively be having a ‘dream team’; confirming this year’s winner Ryuichi Kiyonari and Shane Byrne who have won the title 3 and 2 times respectively. Byrne had been recently linked to Swan Honda and Kiyonari to a Moto2 ride, with Byrne taking up Havier Beltran’s offer and the Japanese rider deciding to staying in BSB and looking to win his 4th title.

Shane ‘Shakey’ Byrne said: “I’m delighted to be joining HM Plant Honda. I’ve spent many years in BSB competing against them so I know just how strong the team is – finishing first and second in 2010 is testament to that. My clear aim is to join Kiyo and Niall Mackenzie in having three British titles to my name! I’m looking forward to working with Kiyo as he obviously knows the bike like the back of his hand; he’s a cool guy and I think we will work well together. I’m also looking forward to riding a four-cylinder motorcycle again. People say I’ve only had success on twins, but I’ve never had the chance to ride a top-specification four-cylinder machine, so I’m excited at the chance to prove to people I can race and win on a four too!”

Continue reading: Shane Byrne in BSB with HM Plant Honda

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Last weekend was Shane Byrne’s last race for Althea Racing Team (who may field only Carlos Checa next season) and the British rider after spending two years in World Superbikes and finishing 10th in this year’s standings, may be heading back to the BSB in 2011 where he won the title in 2003 and 2008.

‘Shakey’ in his blog wrote “I have some possibilities in WSB, options in BSB so I’m off up to Oulton Park Saturday to pursue them and a couple of possibilities elsewhere too” and at Oulton he’ll also be talking to Shaun Muir of Swan Honda.

Swan Honda may run a two rider team next season, if team manager Muir finds the necessary sponsorship backing, admitted that he’s in talks with Byrne and several other riders, “I have a lot of people, including Shakey, on the phone over the last few weeks and I will be in a position to make a decision about riders in the next ten to fourteen days. Talks with my main two sponsors are a long way down the road now and it looks likely we can run with two riders, and do some road racing, next year but, as with all these things, the details are yet to be confirmed. We will, however, be running with Hondas.”

Source | bikesportnews.com

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When World Superbike Reitwagen BMW team literally disappeared from the championship after just three races, Andrew Pitt was left no ride and no clear idea what he would be doing for the rest of season, but the double World Supersport champion has now found a new series and new team and will be debuting with Motorpoint Yamaha for the upcoming British Superbike’s round at Mallory Park.

Pitt will be replacing Ian Lowry and has already tested with team last Friday at Mallory Park. The Australian said: “I have been following the championship and I am looking forward to the new challenge of racing in BSB. It has been a tough season for me so far but I am hoping that this can be the turning point.”

Source | racesport.nl

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Take a look at Graeme Gowland’s crash during Race 1 of this British Superbike weekend at Oulton Park. Gowland fortunately wasn’t injured, but we can’t same the same for his Yamaha YZF-R1, who decided to jump the crash barriers and take a dip in the nearby lake.

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GSE Racing has officially announced just days after concluding their championship winning 2008 season and ahead of their high-profile switch to Yamaha in 2009, that their BSB title-winning team will be running James Ellison and Leon Camier in their partnership with Yamaha Motor UK.

Three times title winner, Camier joined the team in 2008 and is looking forward to challenging the championship.
Former MotoGP rider and winner of the British Superbike Cup on a Yamaha in 2004, James Ellison joins GSE Racing from Hydrex Bike Animal Honda with whom he finished 7th in this year’s British Superbike Championship.

“To be riding for the most successful team in the paddock represents a fantastic opportunity for me; I’m ecstatic. I came close to signing with the team in 2005 and kept in contact with Colin Wright ever since just in case another chance came up and now finally, here I am! I’m really looking forward to riding a Yamaha once again and hopefully repeating the success I had with them back in 2004.” GSE Racing will looking for a record fifth British Superbike title in 2009 with Yamaha YZF-R1.

Source | Airwaves-ducati.co.uk

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