Bumper viewing figures for BSB.

The Bennetts British Superbike Championship has continued to go from strength to strength in 2006, with highlighted television figures showing bumper TV audiences throughout the season.

Figures just released, from audited viewing statistics, show that over the twelve BSB rounds, the 'live' ITV1 coverage attracted an average adult audience of some 11,552,000, which equates to an average viewership of 962,000 per round and 10.68% audience share.

But, for the first time, direct comparisons could also be drawn with the British Touring Car Championship, also shown 'live' on ITV1. BTCC attracted an average audience of some 863,000, an audience share of 9.31%, but almost 100,000 less than tuned in to watch BSB.

Throughout the season, BSB was consistently more popular, according to the official viewing figures, and the two wheeled action was also aired to 270,000 viewers on Sky Sports, with that broadcaster carrying over 100 hours of coverage of the raceday action, including British 125GP, British Supersports, Metzeler Racetec National Superstock and Virgin Mobile Cup together with the Superbikes.

Circuit spectator attendances at BSB was also significantly increased this year, with some 317,100 attending the twelve rounds - an average of 26,425, which is some 2000 up on the previous year, and that, despite bad weather at three meetings, and the loss of a fourth, at Mondello Park, because of torrential rain.

"The figures speak for the themselves. We have a compelling product that has wide ranging appeal and is taking our sport to a whole new audience, who importantly are showing that they want more of the same," declared Tony Partis, the managing director of Dorna UK, the commercial rights holders of the championship.

"We have worked hard to achieve these results and are delighted with the quality of the television broadcasts and the massed audiences they are reaching - the figures have shown consistent improvements over the whole season and now we are working to achieve even better on and off the track."

The 2007 BSB season begins at Brands Hatch on Easter Monday, 9 April, with coverage again on both ITV1 and Sky Sports.