BSB: Season Preview

April 19, 2022 April 19, 2022

After an incredible 2021 season with 15 different riders on the podium and eight different riders as race winners 2022 looks to be even better.

This season 31 riders lineup on the British Superbike grid. Within the 31 riders there are three British Superbike champions, a former World Superbike champion and a former Moto3 world champion. With 33 races to come this season there will be no shortage of on track action between the talented riders.

British Superbike Riders:

Tarran Mackenzie #1:

The current British Superbike champion Tarran Mackenzie is the son of three-time BSB champion, Niall Mackenzie. The 25-year-old rider has amassed 13 race wins and 34 podiums throughout his 95 BSB races. Mackenzie will have a disrupted start to his 2022 season as he has fractured his ankle and will miss the season opener. For this season Mackenzie will feature in World Superbikes as he wildcards at an expected three rounds.

Glenn Irwin #2:

The Northern Irish rider has stayed with the Honda Racing UK outlet for the 2022 season. With 22 podiums and four BSB race wins to his name Irwin is a predicted showdown contender. After finishing eighth overall in the 2021 standings after struggling with injuries, 2022 looks rather promising for Irwin.

Dan Linfoot #4:

Dan Linfoot is one of the most experienced riders on the grid for the 2022 season. This year the 34 year old returns to BSB with the iForce BMW team. In the past Linfoot has had 16 podiums and two BSB race wins in his 245 races he will be hoping to have a solid return to the Superbike class.

Dean Harrison #5:

Harrison is more known for his success on the road racing scene as he has won three TT’s during his career. However, he has returned to the British Superbike scene for 2022 for only his second full season in the class.

Ryan Vickers #7:

After finishing 12th overall in 2021 Vickers has switched manufacturers for 2022. He has moved from the RAF Regular and Reserves Kawasaki to FHO Racing BMW. The now 23 year old is still searching for his maiden podium and the BMW may be the bike to take him to it.

Rory Skinner #11:

The Scot debuted in British Superbikes last year and he impressed many as he took podiums at Knockhill. The former British Talent Cup and British Supersport champion will be hunting more regular podiums in 2022. Skinner has stuck with the FS-3 Kawasaki squad for 2022 as he will try to improve on his 13th place finish last year.

Luke Mossey #12:

The 29 year old is back in British Superbikes for a full season once again in 2022 as he rides for TAG Honda. The former showdown contender will be hoping for a steady return to BSB after racing in Superstock last year.

Takumi Takahashi #13:

Takahashi is a multi time champion in the All Japan Road Race Championship back in his native country of Japan. After debuting in British Superbikes last year he finished 26th overall and will be hoping to improve with new found track knowledge.

Lee Jackson #14:

After missing out on the showdown last year as he finished ninth in the standings Jackson will be gunning for a showdown slot. The 26 year old is still with the FS-3 Kawasaki team for the 2022 season and will want to be a consistent podium contender.

Luke Hopkins #16:

Hopkins and the Black Onyx Security Honda squad are in the British Superbike class for the second year in a row. After scoring points last year and finishing 30th in the standings is a good debut season to build on.

Andrew Irwin #18:

The younger of the Irwin brothers in British Superbikes is still with the SYNETIQ BMW Motorrad team for 2022. After a rather underwhelming 2021 by Irwin’s standards he will be pushing for more podiums and a potential race win this season.

Christian Iddon #21:

After moving from the PBM Team to the Buildbase Suzuki team for the 2022 season he will be hoping to find early form on the GSX-R1000R. The ex-supermoto champion will be pushing for podiums this season in an attempt to secure a showdown position.

Jason O’Halloran #22:

After ending third overall in 2021 O’Halloran will be looking to right his wrongs from the end of last season. The Australian won more races than any other rider last year yet crashes in the showdown saw the title slip from his grasp. This year the McAMS Yamaha rider will still be hunting for his first British Superbike title.

Josh Brookes:

Brookes remains with the Paul Bird Motorsport squad for the 2022 season after a poor 2021 season by his rights. The Australian rider has 147 podiums and 54 race wins in his 302 British Superbike races. The two-time British champion is the most successful rider on the current grid and is on the hunt for his third championship crown.

Bjorn Estment #27:

Estment continues in the British Superbike class with the Powerslide/Catfoss Suzuki team in 2022. After finishing 23rd overall in 2021 with 10 points the South African rider will be searching for more consistent points.

Bradley Ray #28:

Ray rounded out the top ten in the championship standings last year after a difficult year on a BMW. The Rich Energy OMG Racing Yamaha rider has looked incredible in preseason testing so the 24 year old will be hunting for a showdown position this year, and could be a title contender.

Liam Delves #34:

A rookie in the Superbike class for 2022 is Delves who will ride for the Rapid CDH Racing Kawasaki team. The 21 year old finished sixth in the Pirelli Junior Superstock class last year and clearly impressed to get a move to Superbikes.

Dan Jones #44:

Another rookie for the Superbike class in 2022 is Jones. After finishing fourth in the Quattro Group British GP2 Cup the 20 year old has been promoted to the Superbike class. Jones rode for the iForce Lloyd and Jones team in 2021 and has stuck with the iForce BMW team in BSB.

Tommy Bridewell #46:

A seasoned contender in the British Superbike rider is the Oxford Products Racing Ducati rider Bridewell. Last year the 33 year old finished second overall in the standings. With 60 podiums and seven race wins to his name 2022 could be the year Bridewell clinches the British Superbike title.

Danny Kent #52:

The 2015 Moto3 world champion continues his British Superbike campaign with the Buildbase Suzuki team. After his 2021 season was ruined by injuries Kent finished 18th in the championship. However, before his injury he was showing some real promise. After standing on the podium in 2021 Kent is one to watch in 2022.

Leon Jeacock #55:

The Specsavers Suzuki team is readying for their first ever BSB season with ambitions of point scoring positions this year. Jeacock arrives in BSB after being a regular in the support classes and has worked closely with Suzuki on the technical side.

Peter Hickman #60:

Hickman is an experienced campaigner in British Superbikes and has now become a regular podium contender in the class. The FHO Racing BMW team have a great rider to lead their team after a fifth place finish in the championship last year. Hickman will most likely be a showdown contender again in 2022.

Josh Owens #65:

The former British 125 and Quattro Group British GP2 champion is staying with the Rapid CDH Racing Kawasaki team. After suffering injuries in 2021 Owens will be keen on scoring consistent points this season.

Tom Sykes #66:

The 36 year old former World Superbike champion has returned to BSB for 2022 after 13 years in World Superbikes. Sykes has 18 podiums and five race wins in the BSB class. Sykes has returned with the Paul Bird Motorsport squad. After never riding a Ducati in his career Sykes looks like a genuine showdown contender.

Tom Neave #68:

Neave is the reigning Pirelli National Superstock champion after riding for the Honda Racing team. For 2022 the reigning champion is up in the Superbike class with Honda Racing UK. The 26 year old rider showed his talent in 2021 and could be a strong rider in BSB.

Chrissy Rouse #69:

The 2020 Pirelli National Superstock champion has returned to British Superbikes with the Crowe Performance BMW. The 26 year old is riding for the same team he won his Superstock title with. Rouse will need the experience of his former team for his first full BSB season.

Kyle Ryde #77:

The two time British Superbike race winner will still ride with the Rich Energy OMG Racing Yamaha in 2022. After finishing 15th in the 2021 British Superbike championship on the BMW Ryde will be hoping for a better 2022. The Yamaha may suit Ryde better this season in his hopes for a top ten finish.

Storm Stacey #79:

The 18 year old is preparing for his third season in BSB with the Team LKQ Euro Car Parts Kawasaki. In 2021 Stacey finished 19th in the championship with a best result of sixth place at Donington Park. Stacey will be pushing this season for a top 15 finish in the championship to keep improving year by year.

Danny Buchan #83:

After finishing seventh in the 2021 championship with the SYNETIQ BMW Motorrad team Buchan has stayed with the team. As podium contenders and race winners they return in 2022 with showdown hopes. The two time Superstock champion will want a top five finish in the championship this year.

Ryo Mizuno:

Mizuno finished 22nd in the 2021 season after moving from the All-Japan series in his native Japan. The 23 year old had a tough debut season as he had to learn the new circuits he found in Britain. With new circuit knowledge Mizuno will want to make his way further up the standings in 2022.

Leon Haslam #91:

The 38 year old returns to the British Superbike championship after three years in World Superbikes. The ‘Pocket Rocket’ is the 2018 British Superbike champion with 46 race wins and 102 podiums. Haslam will be chasing his second British championship with the VisionTrack Kawasaki team.