BSB News

HM Plant team members John McGuinness and Steve Brogan joined AIM Yamaha rider Ian Hutchinson in helping to kick-start this year's Kennedy Group International North West 200, which is expected to be one of the most exciting yet.

Dorna UK has admitted that MotorSport Vision are the ideal people to take the British Superbike Championship forward after confirmation that Jonathan Palmer's company has secured the commercial rights to the series.

John McGuinness has re-signed with Honda Racing and Padgett's Motorcycles for the 2008 season and will again combine spearhead the Japanese manufacturer's assault on international road races with another assault the British Supersport Championship.

As expected, MotorSport Vision has confirmed that it has agreed a long-term deal with the Motorcycle Circuit Racing Control Board to become responsible for the organisation and promotion of the British Superbike Championship with immediate effect.

A newly formed team has announced it plans to contest the British Superbike Championship in 2008, running three bikes in two championships.

18-year-old Robbie Brown and 19-year-old AJ Johnson will ride for the new team, with their ZX-6Rs maintained by ex-MotoGP mechanic Axel Bergstrom.

Having clinched the British Superstock Championship last season thanks to Glen Richards in its first season of bike racing, Embassy Moto has confirmed that it will compete in both the 2008 British Supersport and 600 Superstock Series' as the only official factory supported Triumph works team.

"I am really pleased to be riding for Jentin Racing/Lloyds British again this year," said Andrews. "The new [control] tyre rule will be good for the championship, as it will put teams on more of a level playing field.

MSS Discovery Kawasaki will concentrate its efforts exclusively on the British Superbike Championship this season - and has promoted 2007 Supersport rider Stuart Easton to ride ZX-10R machinery alongside new signing Billy McConnell.

Running under the banner of Gearlink Kawasaki, the team has secured Chris Martin and Steven Neate to contest the 2008 British Supersport championship.

Plater has raced at the North West 200 for a number of years now upsetting the regular road racers with his daring moves and hard riding. He debuted in Macau last year taking the race win and followed that up this year with another victory.

The Hydrex Bike Animal team has revealed its rider line-up for the 2008 British Superbike Championship, with former MotoGP rider James Ellison set to join forces with road racing specialist Guy Martin.

James Webb will be the man to step up to the challenge as the sole UK1 rider in the British Supersport Championship. The team will also run Taylor Mackenzie in the British GP125 Championship.

Michael Rutter will pilot the 1098 Superbike in the Bennetts British Superbike Championship as well as at the team's own event, the North West 200 held on the 17th May on the north coast of Ireland.

The bikes are among four of only eight, of this type, built by the Italian factory in 2006 and the only ones with full official Airwaves livery. The Superbikes are being sold individually by GSE Racing on eBay, for bids in excess of ?40,000 for each bike.

This is the first time double Japanese Champion, Watanabe will have the opportunity to meet his team-mate and visit the show. He said: "First time to meet Tom is very special. I hope we can work well for Rizla Suzuki and I am look forward to meeting British fans.

Former GP125 rider Kev Coghlan, who finished third in the championship, will be staying with the team but moving into the newly formed Superstock 600 squad alongside James Webb who competed in the Virgin Mobile Cup last season.

But the 34-year-old British racer had a massive stroke of luck on the 15th and final lap of the event when he and rival John McGuinness, on the Stobart Vent Axia Honda, encountered two lapped riders at the Melco Hairpin.

The 27-year-old Liverpudlian completed this year's British Superstock Championship in second place on his Tengo Honda and also impressed when he replaced Ian Hutchinson on the Bikeanimal Supersport machine.

Double BSB winning team owner Paul Bird made the decision after securing his sponsors for a further season. He has also been offered some help from the HRC factory which will give the team an even more competitive edge.

The 31-year-old won the Japanese title with Yoshimura Suzuki, having first taken the crown in 2002, and is acknowledged as one of the best riders in Japan. He has been placed in BSB by Suzuki with a clear aim of winning the championship.

The historic event attracted 60,000 visitors, and impressively 23 per cent of those were first time visitors to the TT races.

The Doha Eight Hour Race, which is the final race in the 2007 QMMF Endurance FIM World Championship, will roar into action on Saturday, November 10th at the Losail circuit in Qatar.

With Kiyonari moving to WSBK and team-mate Jonathan Rea to WSS, both with Ten Kate Honda, HM Plant had two seats to fill for next season - and has secured one proven title contender and one star rookie to campaign the all-new CBR1000RR Fireblade.