2011 British Superbike Series

[QuietMonkey]

BSB Starts soon...

Here's lap times from the late March test at Cadwell Park which Hopkins didnt attend...

1 Shane Byrne, HM Plant Honda, 1: 27.2
2 Ryuichi Kiyonari, HM Plant Honda, 1:27.8
3 Stuart Easton, MSS Colchester Kawasaki, 1:28.2
3 Josh Brookes, Relentless by Suzuki, 1:28.2s
5 Jon Kirkham, Samsung Crescent Suzuki, 1:28.4
6 James Westmorland, Motorpoint Yamaha, 1: 28.4
7 Gary Mason, MSS Colchester Kawasaki, 1:28.5
8 Michael Rutter, Rapid Solicitors Ducati, 1:28.9
9 Loris Baz, Motorpoint Yamaha, 1: 29.4
10 Martin Jessopp, Rapid Solicitors Ducati, 1:29.6

Here's a vid from 2010 of Josh Brookes (an ex-motocross racer) jumping the Mountain...


and a photo from 2010 race action - Michael Laverty...

added an Opening Season promo vid of riders:

[QuietMonkey]

As a point of significance, 2011 is the first time a woman will be competing in the British Superbike Series. I dont know of a more highly regarded nationally ranked Superbike series that a female has ever raced in professionally.

So it'll be cool to check out #100 Jenny Tinmouth in the BSB series this year. Unfortunately as Round 1 started her Aprilia suffered some "technical problem" and she won't make Round 1 this Easter Weekend, so watch for her at Round 2 which gives her a lot of home track support at Oulton. Team Manager John Dimbylow said: “We are all very disappointed to be in this situation today, especially since so much hard work has gone in from the team and Aprilia Racing.

She became the first female to ever win a British Supersport Cup race on her way to finishing an impressive third in the championship, set a new record for the fastest lap by a female competitor at the famous Isle of Man TT event and won the final round of the Hottrax British Endurance Championship at Cadwell Park in November. The Superbike series is a great step forward in her career.

The competition will be great between last years champ, Rio Kiyonari, and other hopefuls including Shakey Byrne, John Hopkins (former MotoGP rider), veteran Michael Rutter and many more...

Confirmed riders as of April 24th:

No Name / Team
1 R. Kiyonari / HM Plant Honda
2 J. Brookes / Relentless Suzuki
3 S. Easton / MSS Colchester Kawasaki
4 D. Linfoot / Sorrymate.com Honda
5 I. Lowry / Buildbase BMW
6 M. Rutter / Rapid Solicitors Ducati
7 M. Laverty / Swan Yamaha
8 J. Laverty / Buildbase BMW
9 C. Walker / Pr1mo Racing Kawasaki
10 J. Kirkham / Samsung Crescent Racing
11 G. Martin / Relentless Suzuki
19 S. Brogan / Jentin Racing Honda
21 J. Hopkins / Samsung Crescent Racing
27 J. Westmoreland / Motorpoint Yamaha
33 T. Hill / Swan Yamaha
40 M. Jessopp / Rapid Solicitors Ducati
46 T. Bridewell / Tyco Honda
56 H. Kennaugh / Splitlath Motorsport
60 P. Hickman / Tyco Honda
65 L. Baz / Motorpoint Yamaha
67 S. Byrne / HM Plant Honda
79 N. Medd / Boss DB
100 J. Tinmouth / Splitlath Motorsport
101 G. Mason / MSS Colchester Kawasaki

[QuietMonkey]

Found a recent test video of the Splitlath Motorsport team...


Sunday Qualifying:

MCE Insurance British Superbike Championship
Round 1, Brands Hatch - Qualifying
1. Shane Byrne (HM Plant Honda) 45.112s
2. Ryuichi Kiyonari (HM Plant Honda) +0.080s
3. Michael Laverty (Swan Yamaha) +0.168s
4. Tommy Hill (Swan Yamaha) +0.212s
5. Loris Baz (Motorpoint Yamaha) +0.408s
6. Michael Rutter (Rapid Solicitors-Bathams Ducati) +0.494s
7. Jon Kirkham (Samsung Crescent Racing) +0.515s
8. Tommy Bridewell (Tyco Honda) +0.703s
9. James Westmoreland (Motorpoint Yamaha) +0.780S
10. Stuart Easton (MSS Colchester Kawasaki) +0.947s


-- Hopkins didnt make the top-ten! wow!

"The second qualifying session got off to a flying start as Kiyonari lapped under record pace with a time of 45.389s, but it wasn't long until his HM Plant Honda team-mate upped his speed and went even faster with a time of 45.301s. The Swan Yamaha Yamahas were then running third and fourth with Hill and Michael Laverty respectively as Jon Kirkham rounded out the top five.

There was plenty of drama in Q2 as Samsung Crescent Racing's John Hopkins got knocked down to eleventh in the final seconds as Tommy Bridewell just edged through to the top ten for qualifying three on the Tyco Honda. Josh Brookes also suffered disappointment and will start from the fourth row of the grid for tomorrow's opening race as he could only set a time fast enough for 13th on the Relentless Suzuki.

The battle for pole position was between the HM Plant Honda team-mates as Kiyonari topped the times, running under the lap record but Byrne was on the attack and twice bettered the time to edge out his team-mate by 0.080s. The Swan Yamaha's of Laverty and Hill complete the front row as Baz leads row two for tomorrow opening race." -- from britishsuperbike.com

[QuietMonkey]

Round 4 at Thruxton had some of the best racing in wet conditions that I have seen in a longgg time.. first race was stellar, second was a not quite as amazing, but still great action...

Lowes was great, Shakey, Hopkins, old man Rutter too... and a few more new guys battled it out...

[jstark47]

As far as I can tell, Speed TV doesn't broadcast British Superbike in the USA. (Yet another in the long list of ways they find to disappoint me).