Buchan, Kent and more: BSB’s Motorcycle Live Roundup

Buchan, Kent and more: BSB’s Motorcycle Live Roundup

21 November 2022

21 November 2022

All eyes were on the Bennetts British Superbike Championship at this weekend's Motorcycle Live in Birmingham. The 2022 season may have only recently concluded but all eyes were on 2023 with a whole host of announcements.

We had a new team, rider deals and, of course, the Championship's 2023 format. Here is a rundown of all the important news from Birmingham.

2023 FORMAT UNVEILED

Bennetts BSB will feature a new format in 2023, bringing a heightened level of competition to the new season.

As Bennetts enter their tenth season of title sponsorship of the series in 2023, the new Championship format will still maintain the principle of a Main Season and a Showdown, ensuring a high level of competition throughout the season. However, the current format of eight Title Fighters being established after the conclusion of the Main Season will be replaced by a new points system.

Across the Main Season, comprising twenty-four races points will be awarded to the top 15 on the scale: 18-16-14-12-11-10-9-8-7-6-5-4-3-2-1

For the Showdown events when the series returns to Oulton Park and Donington Park, the points value per race will increase to: 25-22-20-18-16-14-12-10-8-6-5-4-3-2-1.

The points value per race will increase again for the traditional season finale on the Brands Hatch GP Circuit to: 35-30-27-24-22-20-18-16-14-12-10-8-6-4-2.

The rider with the most points accumulated across the season will be crowned Bennetts BSB Champion.

A Teams Championship will run concurrently with the same principle of an increasing points value as the championship comes to a climax.

More information is available here.

TAS RACING RE-SIGN BUCHAN ON SYNETIQ BMW M 1000 RR

Danny Buchan, a double Bennetts BSB winner in 2022, will remain with TAS Racing aboard a SYNETIQ BMW Motorrad M 1000 RR for the 2023 campaign.

Buchan recorded five podiums during 2022, which included a memorable full house, including two top-steps at Cadwell Park back in August. It was the platform that both the Essex contender and the team needed for the second half of the season, completing the year with two strong podiums at Brands Hatch on the final day on the SYNETIQ BMW.

Buchan is delighted to continue with the Northern Ireland based team and to be riding TAS Racing prepared BMW Motorrad machinery next season, he said: "I'm over the moon to continue with TAS Racing on the SYNETIQ BMW for 2023.

"If you look at the steps we made this season from the midway-point through to the end, it was positive progression. Wins at Cadwell Park yes, that was a superb weekend for everyone involved, but two podiums at Brands - which is possibly my weakest circuit on the calendar - just proves the strength and ongoing development of the TAS prepared M 1000 RR package. That's a massive credit to the team.

More detail is available here.

KENT READY TO PUT NEW LOVELL KENT RACING HONDA TEAM ON THE MAP IN BENNETTS BSB

A new team will join the 2023 Bennetts British Superbike Championship when Lovell Kent Racing Honda (LKR) will make their debut next season. The team has announced the pairing of the Kent brothers with previous Moto3 World Champion Danny Kent competing in the Superbike class whilst his brother Kieran will feature in the Pirelli National Junior Superstock Championship.

The team debut in Bennetts BSB will be in partnership with D&P Lovell, a family-run specialist in the construction machinery sector. Danny Kent makes his return to the Superbike class, where he has previously finished on the podium, fielding the Honda CBR1000RR-R Fireblade SP.

Younger brother Kieran Kent will progress into the Pirelli National Junior Superstock Championship from the Junior Supersport class where he was a podium finisher this year, lining up on Yamaha machinery.

Danny said: "First of all I would like to say a big thank you to the whole Lovell family. I'm looking forward to the new project. D&P Lovell have been a personal sponsor of mine for a few years now and I know they don't do anything half hearted.

"I'm under no illusion that this isn't going to be easy, but I believe we have the right people to do the job properly. I'm also excited to change manufacturer to Honda as it is a proven race-winning bike. I would like to say a massive thank you to everyone involved in LKR and I can't wait to get started."

More details here.

SUPERSPORT STAR PERIE SET TO MAKE BENNETTS BSB DEBUT WITH LEE HARDY RACING

British Supersport sensation Bradley Perie will make his Bennetts British Superbike Championship debut in 2023, signing with the proven Lee Hardy Racing team to compete on a Kawasaki Ninja ZX-10RR as the team target developing young talent within the series. 

After a turbulent 2022, the team is looking to regroup for next year and build an updated and advanced version of the Ninja ZX-10RR. This will ensure that multiple-Supersport race winner Perie, who finished second in this season's Quattro Group British Supersport Championship, will have the best possible start to his career in the highly competitive series.

However, stepping up from a 600cc machine to 1000cc is a big switch. That is why alongside the team working hard on advancing the Superbike, he is fully focused on working on his fitness over the winter months to prepare for the challenges the larger capacity machine brings.

Perie said: "I'm grateful and excited to be making my debut Superbike season with the renowned Lee Hardy Racing team, onboard the proven Kawasaki ZX-10RR along with the Team Green family. It's a dream come true so I can't wait to get the ball rolling with the first test in 2023."

More information is available here.

BENNETTS BRITISH SUPERBIKE CHAMPIONSHIP ANNOUNCE NEW PARTNERSHIP WITH MENTAL HEALTH MOTORBIKE CHARITY

The Bennetts British Superbike Championship has announced a new partnership with the Mental Health Motorbike charity at Motorcycle Live today (Sunday).

Mental Health Motorbike is a registered charity based in the UK. It has been set up to create the country's first dedicated, free mental health support network for motorcyclists and their families.  Working with all sectors of the motorcycle community, they are a value lead charity with a strong focus on inclusion, to reach every type of motorcyclist.

Mental Health Motorbike are already prominent in the motorcycle industry for their work with Motor Cycle Industry Association (MCIA), in addition to series title sponsor Bennetts and are totally reliant on donations and goodwill to enable them to support tens of thousands of motorcyclists nationally.

One in three people are struggling with their mental health and 75% of people with diagnosed mental health illnesses receive no support or treatment. Suicide is the most common cause of death of men aged 20-49 and 75% of suicides are males.

The charity offers three levels of support, firstly through one-to-one support with a trained mental health first aider. Secondly through peer support through a private, members only, online community support group and finally in person rider support at events and activities across the UK.

Mental Health Motorbikes' key objective for next year is to build a network of mental health first aiders from within the motorcycling community, with 150 motorcyclists already trained. This committed group have seen the ripple effect of their action reach out across the country, with many lives already being saved through this network.

Part of this initiative also includes training with the Herock Racesafe Marshals, first to offer support and someone to turn to when dealing with incidents, and as well provide them with the mental health first aid skills, as the marshals, teams and riders are fully integrated within the racing paddock. This will help create more understanding and an empathetic culture within it.

For more information, visit www.mhmotorbike.com

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