British Superbikes 2008 inc new TV deal thread

[patnicholls]

These threads seem to get earlier and earlier, but I guess many of the signings are getting earlier and earlier.

Anyway, here's an outline list of the lineup for BSB next year:

{disclaimer - some of this fact, some informed rumour, some uninformed rumour, and some reading-between the lines. This isn't any kind of official list}

HM Plant Honda - Leon Haslam & Cal Crutchlow
Hydrex/Bike Animal Honda - James Ellison & Guy Martin
SMT Honda - Adam Jenkinson
Red Viper Honda - Aaron Zanotti
PR Branson Honda - David Johnson
TENA Honda - Tristan Palmer & Michael Howarth

Airwaves Ducati - Shane Byrne & Leon Camier
Buildbase Ducati NW200 - Michael Rutter

Rizla Suzuki - Tom Sykes & Atsushi Watanabe [twice Japanese Superbike Champ]
Relentless/TAS Suzuki - Michael Laverty
Samsung Suzuki? - Sean Emmett?
NB Suzuki? - Tommy Bridewell? [not sure they'll return after Ollie's tragic death]

Virgin Yamaha - Karl Harris
Yamaha Co-Ordit - Dean Ellison (http://www.bikesportnews.com/articles/article.html?id=EXCLUSIVE_BOTH_ELLISON_BOYS_IN_BSB _FOR_08_1)
Jentin Yamaha - Simon Andrews
AIM Yamaha - Steve Plater

Hawk Kawasaki - Scott Smart & James Haydon
MSS Discovery Kawasaki - Stuart Easton & Billy McConnell

plus any other teams and then the privateers. We're also now on a single tyre rule, Pirelli will be the supplier so BSB guys can wildcard in WSB.

So...not looking too bad even at this early stage, I think you'll agree! :D

[ChrisS]

James Ellison signed with the new Hydrex Bike Animal Honda team.

http://www.motorcyclenews.com/MCN/sport/sportresults/mcn/2007/december/dec3-9/dec0407ellisonbackinbsb/?R=EPI-97400

[motorsportfan]

There is a LOT OF sporting talent there.
Who is your money on.


1. Byrne.
2. Haslam
3. Ellison J
4 Brogan
5 Byrne

[NinjaMaster]

Dunno, but it looks like Byrne is in for a real big one if he is gonna finish 1st and 5th! :D

[patnicholls]

I need to update the entry list, been a bit hectic the last few weeks with various things. The main players are all sorted but there's a few additions lower down the order.

From what I understand, Steve Brogan's racing in Supersport this year rather than Superbikes. Will check later.

It is still some time before the season starts, mind you!

[redunderthebed]

I have seen a little bit of BSB on fox and ill see if they have it on again i like it quite a bit. :) When does this start and whats the schedule?.

[patnicholls]

Starts in April at Brands GP circuit:

http://www.crash.net/motorsport/bsb/race_calendar/content.html

[fireblade1000]

After seeing the ducti's at the first 2 wsbk rounds does anyone else think Haslam may have been a bit to quick to leave airwaves ducati for HM plant honda.

[neninja]

Thank goodness - since taking over BSB, Motorsport Vision have got rid of ITV as the UK station showing the racing (usually late at night instead of live)

Instead Eurosport will be showing the 2 Superbike races live along with the Supersport and R1 Cup races. All the other support races - Superstock 600/1000, 125 and Superdukes will be shown on a Thursday.

This also means that Eurosport will be showing BSB across Europe and also in Asia/Pacific so all you Australians should be able to see it too.

Channel 4 will show a highlights package on terrestrial TV on a couple of evenings.

Anyone who had seen last years amateurish ITV coverage will understand my relief

[MrJan]

I'd rather have amateurish than no coverage at all like now. And it won't be evenings on C4, it'll be middle of the bloody night.

[patnicholls]

Quoting the news story on http://www.crash.net/motorsport/bsb/news/160432-0/tv_package_revealed.html :

"Race day will also be streamed on the eurosport.yahoo.com website, while a deal has been done with commercial rights holder Motorsport Vision to also broadcast BSB on the Eurosport Asia-Pacific platform – taking the championship to nine further countries."

So that looks like very good news for people wanting to follow it worldwide.

Personally I'm happy too - longer coverage to take in British Supersport (which I usually never see unless I'm at the track) and the other support classes.

Obviously, it's not on one of the 'main' five channels anymore (I understand ITV wanted to put it on ITV4) but that's becoming less important (imho) as we move into the all-digital age.

[jonny hurlock]

Thank goodness - since taking over BSB, Motorsport Vision have got rid of ITV as the UK station showing the racing (usually late at night instead of live)

Instead Eurosport will be showing the 2 Superbike races live along with the Supersport and R1 Cup races. All the other support races - Superstock 600/1000, 125 and Superdukes will be shown on a Thursday.

This also means that Eurosport will be showing BSB across Europe and also in Asia/Pacific so all you Australians should be able to see it too.

Channel 4 will show a highlights package on terrestrial TV on a couple of evenings.

Anyone who had seen last years amateurish ITV coverage will understand my relief

IMO ITV did a better job compere to the beeb and c4 put together,


I'd rather have amateurish than no coverage at all like now. And it won't be evenings on C4, it'll be middle of the bloody night.

c4 with the superbikes (both bsb and wsbk) coverage is a joke, if its on the night it will be replace by big brother when its on.


Quoting the news story on http://www.crash.net/motorsport/bsb/news/160432-0/tv_package_revealed.html :

"Race day will also be streamed on the eurosport.yahoo.com website, while a deal has been done with commercial rights holder Motorsport Vision to also broadcast BSB on the Eurosport Asia-Pacific platform – taking the championship to nine further countries."

So that looks like very good news for people wanting to follow it worldwide.

Personally I'm happy too - longer coverage to take in British Supersport (which I usually never see unless I'm at the track) and the other support classes.

Obviously, it's not on one of the 'main' five channels anymore (I understand ITV wanted to put it on ITV4) but that's becoming less important (imho) as we move into the all-digital age.

eurosport is a good deal for the championship. shame with itv, doing the shame thing with the wrc put on itv4. same with btcc

[neninja]

IMO ITV did a better job compere to the beeb and c4 put together,



I've got Sky so will now be able to watch live coverage unlike last year. Eurosport generally provide the best coverage of any bike racing. Their MotoGP programme is much better than BBC apart from the advertising breaks but just switch to the Beeb for them.

The ITV coverage of BSB last year was dire. They had a former Gladiator Jane Omorogbe and an ex Olympic rower James Cracknell presenting the show. It was embarrassing to be honest. The questions each of them asked the riders pre and post race were frankly unbelievably and showed a total lack of knowledge of the subject.

Admittedly the BBC coverage wasn't much better having that poncy Irish daytime presenter bloke and ex Touring Car driver Charlie Cox

Why do Terrestrial stations dumb down their coverage by using 'personalities' who know little about bikes let alone bike racing?

[patnicholls]

MCN has posted the entry lists for BSB and British Supersport.

32 riders for Superbikes:

http://www.motorcyclenews.com/MCN/sport/sportresults/mcn/2008/march/1-9/mar0708britishsuperbikes2008bsbentrylist/?&R=EPI-99091

2 Leon Camier GBR Airwaves Ducati
3 Stuart Easton GBR MSS Discovery Kawasaki
4 Michael Laverty GBR Relentless Suzuki
5 Karl Harris GBR Team Yamaha
6 James Haydon GBR Hawk Racing Kawasaki
7 Guy Martin GBR Hydrex Bike Animal Honda
8 Billy McConnell AUS MSS Discovery Kawasaki
11 Adam Jenkinson GBR SMT Honda
14 Atsushi Watanabe JPN Rizla Suzuki
17 Simon Andrews GBR Lloyds British Jentin Yamaha
21 Tom Tunstall GBR Hardinge Honda (P)
22 Steve Plater GBR AIM Yamaha
27 Tristan Palmer GBR Tena for Men Honda
31 Nick Pusev GBR Holdtight Yamaha (P)
33 Michael Howarth GBR Tena for Men Honda
35 Cal Crutchlow GBR HM Plant Honda
40 Martin Jessopp GBR Riders Honda (P)
44 Steve Mercer GBR Bike Shop Faversham (P) Yamaha
51 Luke Quigley GBR PDM Racing (P) Suzuki
53 Chris Burns GBR STP Racing (P) MV Agusta
56 James Buckingham GBR Quay Honda (P)
64 Aaron Zanotti GBR Red Viper Honda
66 Tom Sykes GBR Rizla Suzuki
67 Shane Byrne GBR Airwaves Ducati
68 David Johnson AUS PR Branson Honda
77 James Ellison GBR Hydrex Bike Animal Honda
88 Scott Smart GBR Hawk Racing Kawasaki
91 Leon Haslam GBR HM Plant Honda
99 Brian McCormack GBR TAG Honda MAC Racing (P)
111 Malcolm Ashley GBR MAR ARP Kawasaki (P)
118 Dean Ellison GBR Co-ordit Yamaha
200 Michael Rutter GBR North West 200 Ducati
[P = privateer]

And 42 riders for Supersport (plus a rumour that Craig Jones and Miguel Praia from WSS will make a few appearances):

http://www.motorcyclenews.com/MCN/sport/sportresults/mcn/2008/march/1-9/mar0708britishsupersport2008confirmedbssentrylist/?&R=EPI-99092

2 Ian Lowry Moira Relentless Suzuki by TAS Suzuki 600
3 Hudson Kennaugh South Africa Raceways Yamaha Yamaha 600
4 John McGuinness Morecambe Padgetts Batley Ltd Honda 600
5 Steven Neate Barton Le Clay Gearlink Kawasaki Kawasaki 600
6 James Webb Tunbridge Wells Padgetts Motorcycles Honda 600
16 Craig Sproston Southport C.S Racing Honda 600
17 Steve Brogan Liverpool HM Plant Honda Honda 600
18 Pete Spalding New Milton Linxcel-Seton Tuning Yamaha 600
19 Marshall Neill - C Portadown Marshall Neill Racing Suzuki 600
20 Daniel Cooper Stroud Centurion Racing Honda 600
21 David Hallett - C Folkestone TCG Motorsport Triumph 675
25 Dennis Hobbs Kelty Centurion Racing Honda 600
26 Chris Martin North Newbald Gearlink Kawasaki Kawasaki 600
27 James Westmoreland Hull Centurion Racing Honda 600
28 Andy Weymouth - C Brentwood Linxcel-Seton Tuning Yamaha 600
31 Sam Owens Stafford Premier Motorsport Honda 600
33 Aaron Walker Doncaster TJW Racing Honda 600
34 Ronan Quarmby South Africa Raceways Yamaha Yamaha 600
36 BJ Toal Omagh Virgin Media Yamaha Yamaha 600
37 James Hillier Ringwood Kawasaki 600
41 Ben Taylor - C Hornchurch M & B Motorsport Honda 600
43 Patrick McDougall - C Guildford Beowulf Racing Yamaha 600
44 Alastair Fagan - C Bristol Buff JHS Racing Triumph 675
45 Glen Richards Australia Map Embassy Racing Triumph 675
48 Joe Dickenson Chesterfield Trucklinks Yamaha Yamaha 600
49 Brendan Clarke Australia Buff JHS Racing Triumph 675
50 Ben Handley - C York AZ1 Racing Honda 600
54 Jack Groves - C Swindon Kingswood Moto-Sport Yamaha 600
55 Ashley Beech Oldham Colin Appleyard / Macadam Racing Yamaha 600
58 Conor O'Brien Dublin Arkwood Honda Honda 600
67 Glynn Thomas - C Chelmsford GLT Racing Honda 600
74 Dean Hipwell - C Doncaster CDH Racing Yamaha 600
75 Craig Fitzpatrick - C Alfreton BLDS Yamaha 600
76 Ross Walter - C Lytchett Matravers Interserve Racing Triumph 675
77 Marty Nutt Castlerock Nutt Travel/T+G Yamaha 600
78 Alan O'Connor - C Cork Team MFC Racing Honda 600
84 Richard Harrison - C Darlington Harrison Bros Racing Yamaha 600
85 Jonathan Harrison - C Darlington Harrison Bros Racing Yamaha 600
93 Lee Chisnall - C Clacton on Sea LC Racing Kawasaki 600
94 Ben Wylie Market Drayton Wylie & Holland Racing Yamaha 600
96 Paul Young Australia Map Embassy Racing Triumph 675
525 Nick Medd York Virgin Media Yamaha Yamaha 600
[C – British Supersport Cup]

[maxu05]

Wow, that is a pretty big field of riders. I wish Motogp could have that many riders. I hope I get to see some of the action, though, I am still trying to find a way to watch it from over here.

[patnicholls]

The TV deal article says it should be streamed on eurosport.yahoo.com, and televised on Eurosport Asia-Pacific if you can get that?

[maxu05]

Cheers Pat, I will give it a try.

[neninja]

I reckon BSB will be won by Shakey Byrne and BSS by Brogan.

Keep an eye on Andy Weymouth in BSS - he got a few top 10 finishes in 2005 with a 3 year old poorly supported bike before running out of cash and not racing in 2006. He comfortably won the MRO Supersport championship last year. I hope to see him as a regular top 10 rider again.

[jonny hurlock]

7 Guy Martin GBR Hydrex Bike Animal Honda


1. I thought the no 7 is retired because of Barry Sheene

2. on the crash website says its James Ellison not Guy Martin

[ChrisS]

Guy Martin is #9, James Ellison is #7

[patnicholls]

The list has been slightly revised since I posted it (from MCN a few days ago) to the final confirmed one on the BSB site. I'll update it here later.

[jonny hurlock]

just wondering were is virgin yamaha team?

[ChrisS]

just wondering were is virgin yamaha team?

Karl Harris will ride for Rob McElnea's team, but Virgin is no longer a title sponsor

[jonny hurlock]

Karl Harris will ride for Rob McElnea's team, but Virgin is no longer a title sponsor

thanks chris

[ChrisS]

The TV deal article says it should be streamed on eurosport.yahoo.com, and televised on Eurosport Asia-Pacific if you can get that?

any idea why eurosport doesn't have live streaming? did the deal change?

[patnicholls]

any idea why eurosport doesn't have live streaming? did the deal change?

Not sure, to be honest. It had the Le Mans 24hr bike race streamed live, so seems bizarre that BSB wasn't up. I'll have a look sometime.

--------------------

Although obviously, for those of us in the UK, there was some decent racing this weekend at Thruxton.

Probably the most startling highlight though (quite scary live at the time, mind) was the crash in race two that caused the red flag. Tom Sykes inadvertantly clipped the back of Leon Haslam's bike and went down. He slid off safely but his bike cartwheeled in the air at high speed and, well, caught the highly unfortunate Karl Harris in the face as he followed behind. Mercifully though, Karl got up with just a few cuts and bruises, and was a bit sore so didn't take the restart. 170kg bike in the face, at about 120mph.

Karl Harris is a tough cookie. He is from Yorkshire, after all :p

[ChrisS]

That was a scary moment I wasn't sure what happened at first I saw Harris going down but not details, the replay from the other angle showed how Harris was caught. on a side note, very professional work by the director not showing a replay until he was sure Harris was OK. also the commentators said there was an air fence at the end of the runoff area were the bikes ended up but all I saw was a hay wall. surprising really since I think air fences are a must.

[Mach24]

In some respects Karl was 'lucky' he was not still on his R1 when it struck the wall. As painful as the inpact with Tom Sykes Suzuki looked it was the lesser of two evils.

I also did not see the airfence at the point of impact, but there were not clear shots to clarify this.

[maxu05]

It doesn't matter where your from, or who you are, "That's gotta hurt" I hope he has a great round next time out.

[ArmchairBikeFan]

Harris is a nutter. Smacked in the face by a bike, then slams into an air fence at who knows what miles per hour, and he walks to the ambulance. He's like the Terminator.

Unfortunately Adam Jenkinson, the kid who did so well in race 1, had a huge crash at Church corner in race 2, something like 130mph. He's out until the Donington round at least with a smashed wrist.

[patnicholls]

Harris is a nutter. Smacked in the face by a bike, then slams into an air fence at who knows what miles per hour, and he walks to the ambulance. He's like the Terminator.

Unfortunately Adam Jenkinson, the kid who did so well in race 1, had a huge crash at Church corner in race 2, something like 130mph. He's out until the Donington round at least with a smashed wrist.

That's so unlucky for Adam Jenkinson, he had a brilliant debut until his engine gave way. We didn't catch his crash on TV, and it's a great shame that he'll be out of action straight away. Presumably also won't be able to do his day job - as a landscape gardener! He's from just down the road from me actually in Wythenshawe (about five miles from where I live) - good to see a really promising local lad.

[inimitablestoo]

If anyone saw Channel 4's highlights the other night, you might have noticed (since it was written in half-screen-sized letters) that we have a new rider on the grid this year, the intriguingly-named "Shane Bryne"... :s

[Allyc85]

Little bit late, but heres my pics from the friday practise :)

http://s46.photobucket.com/albums/f123/allyc85/BSB%20Thruxton%2008/

[Mach24]

Keep em coming AR20!

Great shots and an insight to a championship I simply do not have this kind of access to.

Thx.