Moto2: Brough Superior to wild-card at Silverstone
Brough Superior will enter the Moto2 class at Silverstone with Luke Mossey competing on board the team's innovative British-designed carbon fibre machine.
The project is headed by California-based Brits Paul Taylor and John Keogh, who are running the team on behalf of the soon-to-be relaunched Brough Superior brand, with the Silverstone entry backed by Bennetts.
"There is a lot of romance around Brough Superior and the project is sure to attract attention around the world, but as much as anything we are just excited to be backing British engineering and design," said Paul Taylor, PR and Sponsorship Manager at Bennetts.
"When it was introduced in 2010, we expected Moto2 to be a place for chassis innovation. Unfortunately that hasn't been the case and we're proud to be backing this original design in an otherwise homogenised field.
"There are no results expectations from Luke and the team, we're just thrilled to be flying the flag for Britain. There's no doubt that we are the underdogs, but we like that and hope that the British public will get behind this exciting project."
The bike, named Carbon 2, has won national level races in the United States and features a carbon fibre monocoque design. It has received input from Formula One engineers John McQuilliam and Steve Nichols.
Like all bikes on the Moto2 grid, the Brough Superior will be powered by the standard specification 600cc four-cylinder Honda engine.
Mossey, a front runner in the British Supersport championships, has already tested the bike in America, before giving the 'Carbon 2' a first run out on British soil at Silverstone this week.
The team is planning to undergo one further test, before making its world championship debut at the Northamptonshire circuit on the weekend of 29-31 August.
Mossey said: "I can't wait to race the Bennetts Brough Superior Carbon 2. I've ridden it in California and really like the bike - it reminds me of riding my 250GP bikes. I've done well at Silverstone, it's one of my favourite tracks, so think we can be competitive even though have had less track time than our competitors. Roll on August!"
Dubbed the 'Rolls Royce of motorcycles', Brough Superiors were rare and expensive machines during their 20 year production run from 1920. Famous for their association with Lawrence of Arabia, Broughs achieved numerous race wins and speed records in the 1920s and 1930s.
The brand was bought by British engineer Mark Upham in 2013 and the company has plans to sell its new SS100 model early next year, the first new motorcycles to go on sale wearing the famous name in 75 years.
Upham said: "The Carbon 2 is everything George Brough would want in a motorcycle and I'm sure he and TE Lawrence will be watching from on high and cheering Luke on as his namesake rolls out in front of the British MotoGP fans."
