The British Superbike Championship is recognised as the world’s premier domestic motorcycle racing championship, producing breathtaking elbow-to-elbow action on production-based motorcycles capable of more than 200mph!

Superbikes are race machines developed from production road-going, litre-class sportsbikes of between 1000-1200cc. Stripped of headlights, road-bodywork and indicators, the machines are lightened, strengthened and fitted with improved tyres, suspension and engine parts until they are capable of more than 200 brake horsepower and 200mph!

Since its high-profile re-launch in 1996, the British Superbike Championship has revitalised motorcycle racing in the UK and has played a key role in the careers of future World Champions including Troy Bayliss, Neil Hodgson and current MotoGP British hope, James Toseland. The series continues to attract leading motorcycle manufacturer supported teams as well as riders from as far afield as Japan, Australia, USA, Spain and France and, over the years has attracted sponsorship from a constantly growing list of blue-chip companies including HM Plant, Hitachi, Audi, Virgin Mobile, Lloyds, Nokia, Panasonic, Cadbury’s, Red Bull, Vimto, Old Spice, Sony and Samsung. The amount of fans coming through the gates to watch the track action is also increasing, with on average, around 25,000 attending each of 2008’s 12 rounds and a television audience in excess of a 6.5 million over the season.

From 2008, the championship followed the Superbike World Championship in appointing Pirelli as the single control tyre supplier, until 2010, whereas previously different teams ran with different tyre manufacturers.

Contributing even further to the exciting BSB track action, the qualifying format changed in mid 2008 from the traditional two fifty minute-long timed sessions, to a new ‘Roll for Pole’. This new ‘knockout’ format sees all riders take to the track for a twenty-five minute qualifying session, with the slowest being ‘knocked out’ to leave just 20 riders for the second session of just fifteen minutes. The next ten slowest riders are then knocked out, leaving the final ten riders to battle it out for the top grid places in the third and final ten minute qualifying session.

Supported by all the main motorcycle manufacturers fielding factory teams, the 2009 season marks the British Superbike Championship’s 22nd year. This year’s series commenced on 13 April, finishes on 11 October at Oulton Park and hosts 26 races held over the 12 rounds across England and Scotland. For 2009, MotorSport Vision – the series organiser – announced that two of the rounds would consist of a triple-header meeting, instead of the usual double-header race format.

Points scoring is awarded to the top 15 finishers on the basis of 25-20-16-13-11-10-9-8-7-6-5-4-3-2-1 and two annual championships are awarded, one for riders and one for manufacturers. A ‘Cup’ class also exists for riders running in privately owned teams.

British Eurosport will continue to air the British Superbike series in 2009 following the signing of a new two-year deal, as, as the country’s most popular motor sport, it attracts a massive television audience. This season's races are all being covered live on British Eurosport, with highlights packages broadcast on both EuroSport 2 and ITV1/ITV4.

For 2009, Honda (UK)’s HM Plant Honda British Superbike team is fielding the all-new Australian rider line-up with reigning British Supersport Champion, Glen Richards, and former World Supersport Championship front-runner, Josh Brookes.

British Superbike Championship Support Races

• Fuchs-Silkolene British Supersport Championship
• Metzeler National Superstock 1000 Championship
• Metzeler National Superstock 600 Championship
• Focused Events RC8 Super
• Relentless 125 British Championship

For further information please visit www.britishsuperbike.com.