GixerGaz
11-12-2006, 17:40
Ryuichi Kiyonari is under no illusion that the defence of his Bennetts British Superbike crown will be anything but tough as the major players in the country's premier championship confirm their line-ups for 2007.
The Japanese star continues into a fourth season with the factory-backed HM Plant Honda team, and has already begun testing ahead of the new season in which he will have teenager Jonathan Rea as his team-mate. Rea raced last year for the satellite Red Bull team, impressing with strong performances as he finished fourth overall, earning his place alongside Kiyonari.
Rea's graduation into the full factory team has prompted a move for Karl Harris. The former triple British Supersport champion has signed for Hydrex Honda, with his determination to enjoy maiden race-winning glory in the top flight heightened.
Shane ‘Shakey' Byrne will also be riding a Honda next term, having signed to head up the Stobart Motorsport challenge, a move that has re-united him with team-boss Paul Bird. They had a highly successful partnership during the 2003 season, in which Byrne won a dozen races to take the title, as well as taking a winning double in the World Superbike Championship, to pave the way into a couple of years of MotoGP action.
Byrne, sixth overall last year, won once with Rizla Suzuki, and will have 21-year old Tom Sykes as his team-mate, the youngster graduating as runner-up in Supersports and keen to make the most of his chance aboard the latest specification Honda. Both riders will begin testing early in the New Year.
Byrne's departure from Suzuki, along with that of James Haydon, means the Rizla squad has a blend of youth and experience as they bid to regain the crown last won by John Reynolds. Cal Crutchlow, the reigning Supersport champion, has already impressed in the familiar pale blue colours, taking second place on his debut outing in the Mallory Park ‘Race of the Year'.
Crutchlow will have the experienced Chris Walker - a race winner in the world championship this season and four times runner-up in the UK title chase. Walker proved his speed and style by winning the Mallory Park race to clinch the deal, and is now hungry for the BSB crown.
Haydon, meanwhile, has signed for Virgin Yamaha – the third time he has ridden for them and the team with who he last tasted race winning glory, at Knockhill. He will have an all-new R1, as will the team's highly talented Tommy Hill who has ridden in their colours for the past three seasons.
Gregorio Lavilla, the champion of two years ago, and Leon Haslam, are both back for more with the Airwaves Ducati team and have already begun their intensive testing programme. Both went into October's Brands Hatch finale having the BSB title within their grasp, only for Kiyonari to deny them, and are certain to again be at the forefront of the chase for honours.
Finally, Michael Rutter is hoping that a switch of team, and bike, will kick-start his title bid, while Leon Camier, a former winner of the Supersport title, moves into Superbike action with Honda looking to land the crown at the first attempt. Rutter, the most experienced rider on the starting grid, has twice been the runner-up, and now has an MSS Discovery Kawasaki team largely built around him to maximise his chances.
The new season begins at Brands Hatch on Easter Monday [9 April] with the full calendar of 13 double race rounds.
The Japanese star continues into a fourth season with the factory-backed HM Plant Honda team, and has already begun testing ahead of the new season in which he will have teenager Jonathan Rea as his team-mate. Rea raced last year for the satellite Red Bull team, impressing with strong performances as he finished fourth overall, earning his place alongside Kiyonari.
Rea's graduation into the full factory team has prompted a move for Karl Harris. The former triple British Supersport champion has signed for Hydrex Honda, with his determination to enjoy maiden race-winning glory in the top flight heightened.
Shane ‘Shakey' Byrne will also be riding a Honda next term, having signed to head up the Stobart Motorsport challenge, a move that has re-united him with team-boss Paul Bird. They had a highly successful partnership during the 2003 season, in which Byrne won a dozen races to take the title, as well as taking a winning double in the World Superbike Championship, to pave the way into a couple of years of MotoGP action.
Byrne, sixth overall last year, won once with Rizla Suzuki, and will have 21-year old Tom Sykes as his team-mate, the youngster graduating as runner-up in Supersports and keen to make the most of his chance aboard the latest specification Honda. Both riders will begin testing early in the New Year.
Byrne's departure from Suzuki, along with that of James Haydon, means the Rizla squad has a blend of youth and experience as they bid to regain the crown last won by John Reynolds. Cal Crutchlow, the reigning Supersport champion, has already impressed in the familiar pale blue colours, taking second place on his debut outing in the Mallory Park ‘Race of the Year'.
Crutchlow will have the experienced Chris Walker - a race winner in the world championship this season and four times runner-up in the UK title chase. Walker proved his speed and style by winning the Mallory Park race to clinch the deal, and is now hungry for the BSB crown.
Haydon, meanwhile, has signed for Virgin Yamaha – the third time he has ridden for them and the team with who he last tasted race winning glory, at Knockhill. He will have an all-new R1, as will the team's highly talented Tommy Hill who has ridden in their colours for the past three seasons.
Gregorio Lavilla, the champion of two years ago, and Leon Haslam, are both back for more with the Airwaves Ducati team and have already begun their intensive testing programme. Both went into October's Brands Hatch finale having the BSB title within their grasp, only for Kiyonari to deny them, and are certain to again be at the forefront of the chase for honours.
Finally, Michael Rutter is hoping that a switch of team, and bike, will kick-start his title bid, while Leon Camier, a former winner of the Supersport title, moves into Superbike action with Honda looking to land the crown at the first attempt. Rutter, the most experienced rider on the starting grid, has twice been the runner-up, and now has an MSS Discovery Kawasaki team largely built around him to maximise his chances.
The new season begins at Brands Hatch on Easter Monday [9 April] with the full calendar of 13 double race rounds.