Bennetts British Superbike Championship promoter MSVR has revealed several changes ahead of a 2021 series of eleven events, setting the stage for an intense 33-race thriller at circuits across the UK.

Following the positive reaction to the triple-header events during 2020, all eleven events next year will feature a three race format for Bennetts BSB, bringing more action into a championship season than ever before in the series’ history. A fitting way to celebrate the 25th Anniversary of the relaunch of the Championship by the Motorcycle Circuit Racing Control Board in 1996.

Event programme

The event programme will also take on a new format, with the opening day of the event returning to two free practice sessions for the BSB class. The fastest 12 riders overall will be seeded directly to the Day 2 Qualifying 2 (Q2) session.

The second day of action will begin with a third, shorter Bennetts BSB free practice session in the morning, followed by Qualifying 1 (Q1), where the fastest three riders will progress through to the Q2 session to join the 12 pre-qualifiers from the opening day in the final fight for the pole position for the opening Bennetts BSB race.

Later in the afternoon on Day 2, the first Bennetts BSB race will blast off, designated as the Sprint Race. The third and final day of competition will feature a morning warm up and the second and third Superbike races of the weekend.

The Showdown

As the regular length season returns, the established Showdown format will apply, with some changes for 2021:

The Main Season will now consist of 8 events and 24 races.

Points will awarded to the first 15 finishers using the regular format of 25-20-16-13-11-10-9-8-7-6-5-4-3-2-1.

After the 24th race, the top eight riders in the championship standings will graduate as Title Fighters and be elevated to 1000 points together with any Podium Points accrued in the Main Season.  Podium Points will be awarded for each main season race as follows:  1st - 5 points, 2nd - 3 points, 3rd - 1 point.

For the remaining 3 events, 9 races, points will awarded to the first 15 finishers using the regular format of 25-20-16-13-11-10-9-8-7-6-5-4-3-2-1.

The BSB Riders Cup will continue to be awarded to the first rider outside of the Title Fighters in the final standings.

Testing

There have also been changes to BSB testing regulations ahead of the new season, which outlaw full team testing outside of UK. BSB Teams may test for a maximum of 16 days in the UK during the season.

Bennetts British Superbike Championship Series Director Stuart Higgs commented: “The 2020 season was a huge challenge for everyone but the outcome was hugely satisfying. The co-operation and passion for the championship has never been stronger. Even before the 2020 season had completed we were carefully scoping the structure for the 2021 season together with the teams, and the announcement today represents the next exciting phase of the Championship, which will see it celebrate its 25th anniversary next season.”  

2021 Bennetts BSB Official Provisional Entry List

(The following have announced or lodged advice of intention to participate as of 21/12/2020)


Team/Manufacturer where known - Rider - Nationality - #

Buildbase Hawk Racing - TBA

Buildbase Hawk Racing - TBA

CDH Racing Kawasaki  - Josh Owens - Great Britain - 65

DB Race Team Kawasaki - Luke Mossey - Great Britain - 12

FHO Racing BMW - Peter Hickman - Great Britain - 60

FHO Racing BMW - Xavi Forés - Spain - 6

FS-3 Kawasaki - Rory Skinner - Great Britain - 69

FS-3 Kawasaki - Lee Jackson - Great Britain - 14

GR Motorsport Kawasaki - Storm Stacey - Great Britain - 79

Honda Racing  - TBA -

Honda Racing - TBA

McAMS Yamaha - Jason O’Halloran - Australia - 22

McAMS Yamaha - Tarran Mackenzie - Great Britain - 95

NP Motorcycles Lextek BMW - Lachlan Epis - Australia - 8

Oxford Products Racing Ducati - Tommy Bridewell - Great Britain - 46

Powerslide/Catfoss Suzuki - Bjorn Estment - South Africa  27

PR Racing BMW - Joe Francis - Great Britain - 40

PR Racing BMW - Brad Jones - Great Britain - 20

RAF Regular & Reserves Kawasaki - TBA

RICH Energy OMG Racing BMW - Kyle Ryde - Great Britain - 77

RICH Energy OMG Racing BMW - Bradley Ray - Great Britain - 28

Roadhouse Macau by FHO Racing BMW - Brian McCormack - Ireland - 11

Silicone Engineering Kawasaki - Dean Harrison - Great Britain - 5

SYNETIQ BMW Motorrad - Andrew Irwin - Great Britain/NI - 18

SYNETIQ BMW Motorrad - Danny Buchan - Great Britain - 83

TAG Racing Honda - Dan Linfoot - Great Britain - 4

Team 64 Motorsports Kawasaki - TBA

VisionTrack PBM Ducati - Josh Brookes - Australia - 1

VisionTrack PBM Ducati - Christian Iddon - Great Britain - 21

HRP - TBA -