BSB star races Supercar in Top Gear challenge

Sunday's episode of Top Gear featured a head-to-head race between reigning BSB Evo-class champion Steve Brogan and an Ariel Atom Supercar.

Filmed in October, Brogan - riding a stock BMW S1000RR road bike - raced the Atom around the famous Top Gear test track.

The Atom costs ?150,000 - more then ten times as much as the stock S1000RR - and is powered by two 1300cc motorcycle engines, which have been bored out and turned into a 475bhp V8! The 999cc stock BMW produces 193bhp.

Brogan had the edge in a straight line, but the car was quicker through the corners and under braking. After several passing manoeuvres the Atom just took victory.

Presenter and slow driver James May was supposed to be at the wheel of the Atom, but in a post-race twist it was revealed that former racer and Top Gear presenter Tiff Needell had taken his place.

"I had a lot of fun filming with Top Gear," said Brogan, speaking before the programme had aired. "I had a few laps in a car then it was out on the stock S1000RR.

"We got some good weather when we filmed it in October and the track was nice and dry so I could push hard. I turned the traction control off as I wanted to use some wheelspin in the corners.

"The car was very quick - and had more than double the horsepower of the bike. But the power to weight ratio was in my favour, so it was a fair race. I rode hard, it was very close!"

Brogan won the 2010 Evo title on a Jentin racing S1000RR. Brogan and Jentin have switched to Honda machinery for a full BSB class entry in 2011 (see separate story).