BSB: Billy McConnell and Simon Reid joins Jackson Racing

Billy McConnell and Simon Reid will race for the C&L Fairburn Properties/Jackson Racing team in the 2023 National Superstock Championship.

Billy McConnell will return for a second year with Chris Fairburn’s team in 2023, riding the Honda CBR1000RR Fireblade. The Australian will spend his second year with the team after a successful 2022 season.

McConnell would spend the year battling for the title, taking it to the final round at Donington Park. He would end the year just 13 points from Championship leader, Davey Todd who would win the Championship.

The Australian would take 11 podiums throughout the year and would consistently battle at the front. McConnell would take four wins in the season, matching the eventual Champion, Davey Todd.

Simon Reid will join the team this season and has a lot of experience within the British Superbike paddock. The Ulster Man last raced in the paddock in 2021, racing in the National Junior Superstock Championship.

Reid has experience with the team, racing with the C&L Fairburn/Jackson Racing Honda team at the Sunflower Trophy. He would battle for a podium place finish at the Sunflower races.

Simon Reid last raced in British Superbikes in 2021, where he finished 21^st in the Junior Superstock standings. He would be forced to miss the last nine races of the season after an injury. This injury would also force Reid to miss almost the entire 2022 season.

The 26-year-old is also the son of five-time Isle of Man TT race winner and two-time World Champion, Brian Reid.

McConnell said: “I’m super happy to be continuing with the C&L Fairburn/Jackson Racing Honda for my second year with the team. Everything was last minute last year with putting the whole team together on the CBR1000RR Honda Fireblade, which we know now after a full season is a fantastic bike. 

“The team is fantastic too and with it being my second year working with the guys, I believe that things can only get better.

“We finished second last year but hope to go one step better in 2023 where hopefully a bit of lady luck will be on our side. There’ll hopefully be a few other races in between to look forward to as well which will be something new for myself so keep an eye out for that.

“As far as the Superstock Championship goes though, I can’t wait to get started again with my team and I’m really looking forward to it so let’s go!”

Reid added: “Signing for the C&L Fairburn/Jackson Racing Honda team is like a dream come true for me and after joining forces with them for the Sunflower races last year; we had a great weekend and some decent results. 

“We all clicked so it is nice to continue that into this season and fantastic to be part of such a great team, especially on the back of the success they had last year with Billy.

“Hopefully I can learn a lot from him as he’s been in the paddock for a long time and moving on to the larger machinery is a big step for me but with the team’s knowledge, it should be a bit easier for me and I’m very much looking forward to being back in the British Championship paddock.

“I’d like to thank the team for such a big opportunity, as well as my sponsors, and I can’t wait to go testing in a few weeks’ time. This year is going to be a big challenge but it’s something I’m very excited about.”

Image: britishsuperbike.com