The Bennetts British Superbike Championship will enjoy an unprecedented amount of both live and delayed UK and, for the first time significant International television coverage from 2008 its first season under the tenure of MotorSport Vision, who have secured new and extensive broadcast arrangements with Eurosport and Channel 4.

The move confirms British Eurosport in the UK as the undisputed home for live motorcycle racing with the Bennetts British Superbike Championship joining live racing from the MotoGP and World Superbike Championships being broadcast to over 10 million homes through the SKY and Virgin Media platforms. The new acquisition, representing 48 hours of live and 66 hours of highlights coverage of BSB in the UK is the start of a major new development for the British Eurosport 2 channel. This new investment in British Eurosport 2 will see it deliver more exciting, tailored programming and presentation for UK sports fans in the coming months.

Fans will be able to enjoy a regular 4-hour live race day show featuring both Bennetts BSB races, the Fuchs-Silkolene British Supersport Championship and Henderson Yamaha R1 Cup support races all live from each BSB round with expert presentation and analysis. Race day highlights will also be shown in primetime that evening, and throughout the following week, including on Thursdays, a "British Superbikes Extra" show featuring all races from the weekends British 125GP, Metzeler National Superstock 600/1000 and KTM 990 Super Duke Championships.

The Eurosport Group has signed an agreement with MotorSport Vision that will also see BSB broadcast live and exclusive across Europe on Eurosport 2 and live on the Eurosport feed in Asia and the Pacific, opening up the Championship to a potential overseas reach of 30 million households in 53 countries. In addition, there will be live streaming of all races on all Eurosport's websites. In the UK this will be www.eurosport.yahoo.com. Eurosport also take on the role of BSB International TV rights handler with ambitions to promote even further worldwide TV coverage.

David Kerr, Director of British Eurosport said: "The acquisition of British Superbikes has got our ambitions for the new British Eurosport 2 off to a roaring start. We have a long relationship with bike fans and can now add this great championship to our already unbeatable line-up of bike racing. The arrival of the British Superbike Championship clearly positions British Eurosport as the home of live motorcycle racing on TV."

Extending the reach of the championship even further, Channel 4, one of only five UK network terrestrial channels, will also broadcast a one-hour highlights programme on the Tuesday night after each event, with a repeat later in the week. The same programme will also be available on Channel 4's 1 hour time-shifted and free-to-air service; C4+1. The show will also be available to view on the internet and selected digital TV partners through Channel 4's Video-On-Demand service, www.channel4.com/4od. This marks a return to the Championship for the broadcaster who last covered the action in 2005.

Deborah Poulton, Deputy Editor of Sport at Channel 4 said "We are thrilled to have British Superbikes back within our portfolio and hope that the availability of our tailored highlights package will serve bike fans well."

This gives BSB a massive total of some 162 hours of UK broadcasting across satellite, digital and terrestrial TV networks plus additional live Pan-European and Pan Asia-Pacific coverage and extensive live streaming and on-demand content on the Internet making it the most significant TV broadcast arrangement in the championship's history.

Commenting on the new TV deal, Jonathan Palmer, Chief Executive of MotorSport Vision said: "As the new rights holder it is clear that television coverage is vital to the future development of BSB, so a great deal of effort has gone into understanding what matters and securing the optimal package. ITV1 was not going to continue carrying live BSB coverage from 2008 and we are in a new era in which the digital channels will be the home of virtually all sport. I believe it is important that we have a broadcast partner that is recognised as the logical and natural home for bike racing, so fans know where to find BSB on television. With nearly 20 years of sport broadcasting and now covering both MotoGP and World Superbikes, Eurosport was the therefore the perfect choice and I was delighted to find that they were as excited as we were about completing the hat trick with BSB too. I am determined that BSB shall also become internationally famous as the best national superbike championship in the world and Eurosport's global coverage will play a major role in achieving that. Channel 411 on SKY is going to be utopia for bike racing fans this year. It is also very important to maintain terrestrial coverage and our Channel 4 highlights programme will attract a big audience on Tuesday nights."

Stuart Higgs, BSB Series Director concluded: "This is fantastic news for everyone associated with BSB our teams, riders, the manufacturers, commercial partners and of course the fans who will all benefit from the increased UK and now worldwide TV coverage of our events. Broadcasting is an incredibly complex and evolving environment and our hard work has paid off by placing the championship across many different and new broadcast and media platforms. We have in Eurosport and Channel 4, two very complementary broadcast partners who with their combined reach and technologies will ensure BSB is seen by as wider audience as possible."

The new BSB season begins on the famous Brands Hatch Grand Prix circuit on Sunday 6 April. Tickets cost from £22 for adults, with free entry for children aged 12 and under. To purchase tickets call 0870 950 9000 or click on: http://www.motorsportvision.co.uk/

The world’s leading domestic Superbike series will continue to be known as the Bennetts British Superbike Championship for the fourth consecutive year. The UK’s premier bike insurance provider has agreed a title sponsorship deal of the series with new championship rights holders MotorSport Vision.

Bennetts Marketing Director Mark Fells believes the new relationship with Jonathan Palmer’s MotorSport Vision group will provide a solid partnership for future success.

"The future for the Bennetts British Superbike Championship looks extremely promising," said Fells. "We’re really excited about our additional sponsorship activities to further increase the value of the series, such as having James Toseland present at key events throughout the year. We’re looking forward to a successful partnership with MotorSport Vision and hope that we can help to further boost the profile of our domestic series."

The deal strengthens Bennetts’ involvement in motorcycle racing sponsorship with event title sponsorship of the two British World Superbike rounds and personal support of MotoGP contender James Toseland already confirmed.

"I am delighted that Bennetts will be continuing as the title sponsor of the 2008 British Superbike Championship. BSB provides the greatest promotional platform for any bike related product in the UK already and Bennetts have confirmed their confidence in MSV’s determination to make this great sport even bigger" said Jonathan Palmer, the Chief Executive of MotorSport Vision.

The official television broadcast partners and coverage will be announced on Wednesday 5th March.

Relentless Suzuki by TAS Racing has completed a successful three-day test at the Almeria Circuit in Spain with both riders, Michael Laverty and Ian Lowry, more than satisfied after the opening shakedown of the year.

The team had arrived in Spain expecting to make a number of changes to the new all new K8 GSX-R600, but together with the new Showa Suspension package for 2008, Lowry came away from Almeria with the fastest Supersport time of 1min 40.0secs which was knocking on the door of the times set by a number of World Supersport riders earlier in February at the same circuit.

Current British Supersport Champion Laverty spent the first couple of days reacquainting himself with a Superbike after a season in the 600cc class, putting in as many laps as possible.

The team made a multitude of changes, both with suspension and electronics to help him learn more about the bike, then on day three he set a time of 1min 37.8secs - the fifth fastest Superbike time at the test, and just behind fellow Suzuki rider Tom Sykes.

"It was good to get back on the Suzuki Superbike and I must say I was pretty impressed with the BSBPirelli control tyre,” Laverty said. “I was just dialling myself in on days one and two then on the third day we had a bit of go and wound it up. Both the bike and myself are probably only at 95 per cent so to be in the ballpark straight away is encouraging. I can't wait for the season to start and also to give a good show at Bishopscourt."

Story courtesy of Crash.net

The Rizla Suzuki British Superbike team completed its final day of a three day test at Guadix in Spain with both riders improving their times and honing their machine set-up.

Huddersfield rider Tom Sykes completed 92 laps during his final day of testing and finished with a lap time of 1min 13.6secs. He worked on refining his chassis further and believes the effort put in now will show once the racing starts in earnest.

He said: “I’m really happy with my Rizla Suzuki GSX-R1000. We have all worked hard to get it dialled in; I do feel there is more to come from the front end which will boost my confidence even further. The electronics are working well so I’m very pleased with how all our testing has gone. I can’t wait to get racing.”

His team-mate, two times Japanese Champion, Atsushi Watanabe, completed 95 laps on his final day at the 2.7km Spanish circuit. He impressed everyone by posting a time just a tenth of a second away from Sykes fastest lap as he adapted to the European style circuit lapping in an impressive 1min 13.7secs

“This circuit is strange and narrow for me,” said Watanabe. “My team say this is very like English track especially Knockhill. I happy I now close to Tom’s times on this difficult circuit. I think English tracks will be a new challenge for me and I look forward to learning.”

Overall Team Manager Jack Valentine was pleased with his team’s progress during this intensive testing stint. He said: “Considering we have really been concentrating on setting the bike up and not chasing fast lap times I’m pleased with the progress both riders have made, especially Atsushi. He has worked very hard with his crew chief to achieve the lap time he put in today. Tom feels he still has something in reserve and is a little sore from his high side a couple of days ago. I’m now looking forward to the official British Superbike Test at Snetterton over the Easter weekend. I feel we have a capable motorcycle that can win races.”

The official British Superbike Test takes place at Snetterton on the 22nd – 24th March.

For further details on the team’s progress please visit www.rizla-suzuki.co.uk.

Final Test Times

1: Leon Haslam (Honda) 1:12.8
2: Cal Crutchlow (Honda) 1:12.9
3: TOM SYKES (RIZLA SUZUKI) 1:13.6
4: ATSUSHI WATANABE (RIZLA SUZUKI) 1:13.7

The third and final day of the Pirelli British Superbike test at Almeria in Spain was a fruitful one for the Rizla Suzuki pairing of Tom Sykes and Atsushi Watanabe.

The two times Japanese Superbike Champion Watanabe worked steadily through every chassis variation and combination, allowing him and his technicians to learn more about the set-up of the GSX-R1000. He completed a whopping 92 laps and dropped his lap time by a further 0.7secs to 1min 37.9secs which he posted on his last lap of the day.

“I very happy with my Rizla Suzuki now,” commented Watanabe. “We work hard on understanding bike and tyres. I have feel from my bike so it is good test.”

BSB Rookie of the Year Sykes completed 82 laps and also worked on optimising his chassis set-up rather than going all out for a fast lap. He set his fastest lap of the test on day two with a time of 1min 37.3secs.

Sykes said: “I had a good day, we definitely made progress. I know I could have gone faster but we decided to gather data which will stand us in good stead in the future. All in all it his been good - we have got a lot of information for the electronics and can learn from that. The Pirellis feel fine, all the way through this test I’ve had good rear grip.”

The team now moves to the Spanish Guadix circuit where it will continue the rigorous pre-season testing over the weekend. “We have moved forward with this test,” said Team Manager Jack Valentine. “Everyone has worked exceptionally hard and we are able to take a lot of relevant data away with us. We ran a number of laps at race pace and we are happy with the Pirelli tyre durability. We are now on our way to Guadix which is a short, tight and twisty track. I’m sure this will be challenging to Atsushi as it is very like an English track. We still have a busy few days ahead.”

For further information on the team’s test progress visit www.rizla-suzuki.co.uk.

Final Test Times

1: Leon Haslam (Honda) 1:36.4
2: Shane Byrne (Ducati) 1:36.7
3: Cal Crutchlow (Honda) 1:36.8
4: TOM SYKES (RIZLA SUZUKI) 1:37.3
5: Michael Rutter (Ducati) 1:37.7
6: ATSUSHI WATANABE (RIZLA SUZUKI) 1:37.9
7: Leon Camier (Ducati) 1:38.2

Airwaves Ducati are pleased with their progress following the completion of a 3 day test in Almeria.

It was the first outing for the team on the new Ducati 1098Rs with both riders recording consistently good times and feeling confident on the new machinery. With an air temperature of 19 degrees and a track temperature of 28 degrees, the 4km circuit saw 397 laps completed by the Airwaves Ducati riders; 220 by Shane Byrne and 177 by Leon Camier.

The test allowed the team to familiarise themselves with the new bike and experience the new Pirelli tyres. Team manager Colin Wright commended the service of the new BSB tyre provider saying; "Pirelli have been excellent during this test; I would like to thank them for the service and support that they have provided. The whole team has worked well and we are all very happy with the way we have started 2008."

Leon Camier was pleased with his first test as an Airwaves Ducati rider; although he acknowledges he still has further to go before he is fully recovered from his injury. "I am happy with the way things have started here; it's all been pretty good! I still have lots to learn in order for me to get the best out of the Ducati but the team have been awesome; they are really easy to work with and I felt we achieved a lot in a short space of time. It has been a learning curve with the tyres but the bike has been great and I know there is a lot more to come. My plan now is to go home and continue to work hard on my fitness, I was impressed with how strong I felt but I want to feel even stronger in time for the next test."

Shane Byrne was also pleased with his progress saying; "This test has gone really well for me. I have done 6 or 7 race simulations and I think I have completed more laps than anybody else and it all felt really good. We have started exactly as I wanted to, in order for us to be as strong as we can be come the start of the season. My concentration has been on lapping consistently here and whilst we need to understand the Pirelli tyres more I feel we have started well. The team have worked really hard and we are all looking forward to getting going again at our next test."

The Airwaves Ducati teams' next test will be at Calafat on March 10th - 13th

Dorna today announced that, following discussions with Jonathan Palmer and the MotorSport Vision (MSV) organisation, the British Superbikes (BSB) commercial rights will be transferred to MSV from the 2008 season.

Since 2004 Dorna UK, part of the Dorna Sports organisation, has been the commercial rightsholder for the British Superbike Championship. In that time Dorna has underwritten the television coverage of the championship and successfully elevated awareness of the series by securing live coverage on the ITV1 terrestrial channel. This coverage was complemented by further programming on SKY Sports and Men and Motors. As a result the championship has benefited from unprecedented sustained commercial interest and sponsorship support.

Tony Partis, Dorna UK’s managing director, explained, “In 2004 the championship owners, the Motorcycle Circuit Racing Control Board (MCRCB), approached Dorna and asked us to step into British Superbikes as commercial rightsholder. Since that time Dorna has invested significant sums in the series in an effort to raise its profile amongst bike fans and beyond. In 2007 the series enjoyed it’s highest ever visibility and is firmly established in the consiousness of armchair fans, the general media and marketing brands.

“It is deeply satisfying that the series has never been healthier commercially, however with MSV hosting half the 2008 championship rounds, Jonathan and his team are now better positioned to promote the commercial rights. We wish Jonathan and the MSV organisation every success for the future and look forward to the continuing growth of the series.”

MotorSport Vision has signed a ten year agreement with the MCRCB to be responsible for the organisation and promotion of the British Superbike Championship with immediate effect.

The British Superbike Championship has been running in its current format since 1996 and in 2008 will comprise 12 events, each with two races, including all the major UK circuits. Well known bike racing names including World Champions; Troy Bayliss, Neil Hodgson, and James Toseland have all starred in the series which features all the leading bike manufacturers; Ducati, Honda, Kawasaki, Suzuki and Yamaha.

MSV Chief Executive Jonathan Palmer commented; “The British Superbike Championship is Britain’s most popular motor sport attracting big crowds at the circuits and large audiences on television. On purchasing the circuits in 2004, as soon as I saw my first BSB race I was completely hooked – the racing is incredibly close and full of drama. The top riders really are heroes!”

Palmer continued; “We are very appreciative of the investment Dorna has put into BSB over the last four years and look forward to continuing to expand the championship in the future.”

BSB will now be run by MSVR, MotorSport Vision’s racing division, from its Brands Hatch base. Stuart Higgs, who will continue to be the Series Director commented; “Jonathan Palmer and MotorSport Vision have already contributed greatly since the start of their involvement in 2004 in the both the development and the direction of the championship. This migration into the position of rights holder combines their high standards of operation, presentation and forward thinking together with the strengths and the potential that the entire British Superbike championship platform clearly has. I am tremendously excited about the new structure and the opportunities that lie ahead."

A brand new team will compete in The British Superbike Championship 2008. TENA For Men Honda will challenge in all three racing categories of the ’08 season. The team is backed by a major new sponsor in Superbikes, TENA for Men, which will support three riders throughout the season:-

Rider No. 33 - Tristan Palmer – competing in the British Superbike Championship
Rider No. 27 - Michael Howarth - competing for British Superbike Cup
Rider No. 51 – Jay Dunn - as Superstock rider

The 2008 TENA For Men Honda team will ride Honda CBR 1000RR machines as used by the Stobart Honda team in 2007. The team is bullish about its chances in all three racing categories, “Our goal is for regular podium finishes in both the Championship and Cup series,” said Michael Howarth.

The new racing outfit launches from the foundations of Team Howarth Racing which featured privateer Michael Howarth during the 2007 season. Michael spectacularly crashed and shattered his leg whilst qualifying at Brands early on in the 2007 season. Whilst out of action, the team quickly found a replacement in Tristan Palmer, 25, who flew back from Daytona after competing in the AMA Superbike series.

Tristan ended up cruising the privateer title after an immaculate series of rides taking the British Superbike Cup with 426 points, 53 points clear of nearest rival James Buckingham. He is one of the few riders to have competed in both the AMA and British Superbike Championship.

Michael’s crash and subsequent injury brought about a complete change in the rider’s attitude to life. “Racing bikes is risky,” says Michael. “You do all you can to mitigate that risk, but it still exists. My health is very important to me, and time off last season gave me plenty of time to contemplate.”

This focus on health is the reason Michael was happy to cut a deal with new team sponsor TENA For Men - a newly-launched brand for the 3.5 million men in the UK with bladder weakness.

“We see our association with this sport as a key to raising awareness about male bladder weakness in the UK” says Nick Foulger, Marketing Manager, TENA For Men. “Be in no doubt - TENA For Men Honda will be a team with a significant profile both within and beyond the world of Superbikes in 2008.”

Both Rizla Suzuki riders ducked under the lap record at the Al Carras circuit in Spain today during the team’s third and final day of its private pre-season test.

Team-mates Tom Sykes and Atsushi Watanabe left the Al Carras circuit knowing that they were the fastest people to ever lap the demanding venue, with Sykes setting the new unofficial lap record while Watanabe was just 0.47secs behind.

Sykes more than made up for the electrical gremlins which hit his track time yesterday by completing a total of 80 laps. He concentrated on chassis geometry and getting in plenty of consistently fast laps.

“It has been a good test, I’m very happy,” said Sykes. “We have got some good base settings now to work from. I’ve got plenty of laps under my belt; now I need a rest and then I’ll be excited and ready to go for the next test. I’m really enjoying the atmosphere in the team and I’m enjoying my Rizla Suzuki GSX-R1000.”

Watanabe worked on various set-up combinations in order to learn as much about his Rizla Suzuki as possible as he completed 69 laps. He said: “This track is very different to Calafat and to Japanese tracks it took some time to get used to. After first day I was comfortable and at end times were good. I’m happy with my Rizla Suzuki. I come to UK in late February and look forward to my first visit to UK tracks with John Reynolds, he will help me learn.”

Team Manager Jack Valentine was thrilled with how well both his riders and team performed. “The team worked really hard to get the Pirelli tyres working on the abrasive track surface,” explained Valentine. “This will stand by us as we prepare to go to the official Pirelli test at Almeria which has a similar surface.

“We’ve got a good feel for things and just need to keep tweaking the package,” he continued. “I’m looking forward to getting to Almeria so we can get our hands on race rubber. It will also be good to see where we stand against our competitors as there will be other teams there. I’m really pleased with how this test has gone and if we had stayed here for another day both guys would have dropped their lap times even further.”

Loughborough’s Aaron Zanotti has signed with Red Viper Racing to campaign the teams Honda Fireblades in the 2008 Bennetts British Superbike Championship.

A jubilant Zanotti said: “I am delighted to have clinched a deal with Red Viper and to be able to have another crack at the Superbike Championship. This is an experienced and well organised team and to have such good backing gives me a lot of confidence.”

Zanotti tried the teams Fireblades for size at the Red Viper Racing headquarters in Warrington where the bikes are prepared:

“ To have two race bikes is a first for me and will be a big asset. I raced a Honda Fireblade in the last two rounds in 2007 and got on really with it. The Fireblades renowned mechanical reliability could be a big factor in the results this season so I’m very happy to be riding the Red Viper Hondas. And I hope the experience gained racing on Pirellis last year will stand me in good stead this year. The rule changes are going to bring some much closer racing this season!”

Aaron and the Red Viper Racing squad will shortly begin testing on racetracks in the warmer climes of southern Spain, including the official Bennetts British Superbike test at the Guadax circuit in the first week of March.