Houston, we have a problem. No, not Apollo 13, but BSB 2012. Anyone that saw the last lap, last race of the season slugfest between Tommy Hill & John Hopkins must be wondering the same as me, how does BSB live up to that sort of action in 2012!! Hopper moves on (deservedly) to WSBK with Crescent, who will be a HUGE loss to BSB, and I have to wonder, in the case of Hopper, who will step up and fill the void? Many folk believe it will be an ex wsbk/motogp refugee somewhere, but personally I feel its the year for the 'kids' to move up a gear and show what they can do. The likes of Pete Hickman, a man who, until this year has run without electronics of any kind, and even turned his 2011 Honda TC system 90% off this year, Gowland, who ran with no electronics, and many others. The majority of the newly crowned 'Elite' Teams (16 2-man teams as per 2012 regulations) are yet to announce anything, but the really big teams have done their 2012 prep already.... Paul Bird Motorsport return to BSB using there 2011 WSBK Kawasakis, And have already announced Stuart Easton and Shane 'Shakey' Byrne on them, with the up and coming Keith Farmer on a superstock ZX10R run by them. Honda UK Racing Have signed 2011 Showdown contender Micheal Laverty and 'Riders Cup' winner John Kirkham, with a new CBR1000RR and what many journos regard as the weakest rider pairing at the team for some time, can the Former HM Plant sponsored team mount a serious challenge in 2012? The TAS Suzuki team Becomes Tyco Tas Racing in 2012, and have kept perrenial 'Bad Boy' and cadwell mountain expert Josh Brookes onboard for a second season, slotting alongside him is Alistair Seeley, who steps up after his 2011 Supersport winning season with the same team. In my opinion, Josh starts 2012 as one of the favourites. Team WFR Will continue with there brilliant 3 bike setup and have kept 2011 Sensation Graham Gowland on board, as well as late-to-the-team James Westmoreland, biggest suprise perhaps is the return to the team of early season challenger in WFR colours, ALex Lowes! GB Racing make the step up from British Superstock, and have kept the talented Tristan Palmer, their second rider is yet to be announced. PR Racing will yet again be running the big ZX10R and have kept Simon Andrews & will be partnering him with his former MSS team mate Gary Mason. Buildbase Hawk BMW will again be on the grid in 2012, despite a shocking season in 2011 in which they struggled with the S1000RR's highly complex electronis and its highly strung engines, they have not announced riders yet, but its expected that Superstock 1000 champion Richard Cooper will make the jump to Superbikes. Splitlath Aprilia have a new team co owner in former Olympian Derek Redmond, they have confirmed their prescence on the grid in 2012 but as yet no riders have been signed, its widely expected they will stick with the underperforming Aprilia RSV4, Redmond has said, however, to expect a shock when the riders are announced. Pr1mo Kawasaki & Bournemouth kawasaki have joined forces for 2012, And will keep both teams 2011 riders, Which means up & coming James Hillier will be partnered by veteran Kawasaki Slinger Chris 'Stalker' Walker. with plenty of data from a near 2012 spec bike to look on, they could provie a few surprises. As for the rest, well we know Rider ducati will not be on the grid after they spat out their dummy at not being able to run the stupendous electronics they needed to make a Ducati work, Rob Mac has confirmed that after 20 years his squad will not be on the 2012 grid and are taking a 'sabbatical' with a view to coming back in 2013. SMR Swan Yamaha Have lost Laverty & expert crew cheif Mick Shanley, and are faced with running what will be a poor choice of bike under the new technical regs. Dan Linfoot is widely expected to join the squad for 2012. MSS Colchester racing have not announced anything yet, but speculation all around puts them with Aprilia Machinery in 2012, no riders are signed yet but with the amount of top level riders remaining unsigned, its not hard to put 2 & 2 together.. Other teams are yet to decide if they can/will run in 2012...Updates as & when....
I would love to see the Honda do it this year, if Lowes can stay on the bike he may well be a title contender. Last year proved in evo class that Honda can run the best out of all the makes without the electronic aids.
Latest news, MSS colchester kawasaki announce they will remain with kawasaki machinery for 2012 and confirm there entry. No riders signed yet though
And Chris 'Stalker' Walker has been dropped by Pr1mo Bournemouth kawasaki before the season even starts
Heard Walker could have been out of a job last week, so not a major surprise there. Young Joe Burns step's up to take his seat at Pr1mo. With Northern Ireland's Josh Elliott taking a Superstock 1000 ZX10R ride with the team Padgetts look set to jump into the British Superbike Championship again, so it could be an exciting year. Lots of riders linked with Padgetts at the moment, so be interesting to see who's on what. Lots of riders without a seat at the minute, and lots of teams still not confirmed. So it's going to be an interesting January, I would say. Rumour of Michael Rutter being on a Honda, after the Riders Ducati team pulled out, as the Ducati's won't work effectively with the new control Motec.
me too! but what with his moto x track and race school.... (fair play as he needs a living after racing) how serious would he have taken the series???
Rutter nearly signed with padgetts, but is currently trying to tie something up with Quay garage, however there is a possibility of him partnering John McGuiness in the TT Legends team, Lowry is another looking at padgetts, loads of stuff going on behind the scenes (as im sure you will know, but are asked not to say, just like me) bit pissed that none of the top teams have signed Hickman yet, one of the stand out performers on the quay garage bike if you ask me, as for Jessop & riders, dont talk to me about them, they were consulted on the new rules, as were Ducati UK and Ducati Corse, they have just thrown a paddy because Rapid binned them off, not surprising given the way they treated Mike Booth, who took the Rapid cash to them in the first place. As for Pr1mo, bit silly really, Burns, although a top lad, didnt exactly set the superstock class on fire, on walker put in some really good performances on the kwak. Josh getting a good ride is brilliant news though, definately a talent to watch.
Yup, he left by 'mutual consent' In other news, Tommy hill officially announces he will remain in BSB, With SMR Swan Yamaha, with TT winner & professional yorkshireman Ian Hutchinson partnering him!
