The Supersport class is one of the main support races to the BSB series and features road-going, production based ‘showroom look-alike’ machines, although changes are permitted to exhausts, suspension internals and also tyres.

They are powered by engines over 400cc and up to 600cc four stroke four cylinder: 600cc up to 675cc four stroke, three cylinderwith minimum weights of 161kg for all configurations. All machines run Motec M8xx ignition control systems.

Grid positions are derived on the basis of performance by all riders - Championship and Cup – over two timed qualifying sessions, with the fastest rider taking pole position through to the slowest rider taking the final position on the grid. There are four riders on each row of the grid. Points scoring in both the Championship and the Cup 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

In 2009 Honda’s Steve Plater took the British Supersport title for the HM Plant Honda team. It was the last time Honda competed officially in the championship, having chosen to withdraw and concentrate on the British Superbike and British Superstock 1000 classes.

Honda will however be represented on the Supersport grid by a range of independent teams, including the hugely successful Padgetts Honda outfit.