News of the 2005 British Superbike entry list

Raceline Photography
By blue2bikes
December 22 2004

The provisional entry list for the 2005 British Superbikes championship has come with a few surprises, to say the least - as you can see below. Although it is still only provisional there are some marked differences in machines and riders taking part.

It shows a record number of entrants to next year’s BSB, with 26 confirmed Superbike riders, and only eight riders competing in the Superbike Cup which runs within the premier class.

As reported earlier MonsterMob have gone with the Honda FireBlade, but still have to name a third rider. Conjecture on this is still rife, and it’s anyone’s guess who that rider will be. Colin Appleyard Racing are still to name their rider(s) and machines as yet and could push the total rider line up to 36 competitors.

With only two Ducatis now left in the series - ridden by ‘Pocket Rocket’ Leon Haslam and James Haydon - it’s going to be a tough season, with twelve Honda FireBlades, nine Kawasakis, eight Yamaha R1s, and four Suzukis. It’s going to be exciting to say the least.

John Laverty will have support from World Superbike’s Ten Kate team, who are no strangers to how the FireBlade works - having had a full season’s racing in WSBK with Chris Vermeulen aboard their machine with great successes.

Karl Harris won’t be there to make up the numbers, and will be out to prove he has what it takes in the premier class, and young gun Tommy Hill will be out to gain more top flight placings. Steve Plater has it all to do after a disastrous campaign this year, and Sean Emmett will be out to prove all the doubters that he can still run at the top after a bad year on the Ducati, with handling problems cropping up at nearly every circuit.

Michael Rutter still wants the title very badly and will no doubt go all-out from the first race to put some distance between himself and the current champion John Reynolds, who won his third title this year. Mike’s team-mate Ryuichi Kiyonari was improving throughout the latter part of this year and, after trouncing all before him at Donington, will be wanting to prove he has lost none of those abilities and will be a strong contender.

Surprisingly enough, Mark Heckles is not in the line-up after his horrific crash at Brands Hatch this year, but hopefully he will be riding in the BSB series.

Whichever way you look at it there will be fireworks from the off, and I, for one, wouldn’t like to pick a winner from the line-up. Not just yet anyway. See you there as this year is going to be one not to be missed.

Here is the provisional listing for the British Superbike series in 2005 • SC denotes Superbike Cup

1 John Reynolds (GB) Rizla Suzuki GSX-R
2 Michael Rutter (GB) HM Plant Honda CBR RR
4 Steve Plater (GB) Dienza Performance Kawasaki ZX-10
5 Sean Emmett (GB) Virgin Mobile Yamaha YZF-R1
6 Gary Mason (GB) Monstermob-Stobart Honda CBR RR
8 Tommy Hill (GB) Virgin Mobile Yamaha YZF-R1
9 Karl Harris (GB) Honda Racing CBR RR
10 Jon Kirkham (GB) Dienza Performance Kawasaki ZX-10
11 Ben Wilson (GB) Vivaldi Racing Kawasaki ZX-10
12 Dean Thomas (AUS) Hawk Kawasaki ZX-10
14 John Laverty (IRL) Vitrans Ten Kate Honda CBR RR
15 Dean Ellison (GB) Jentin Racing Yamaha YZF-R1
16 Gareth Glynn (GB) Jentin Racing Yamaha YZF-R1 • SC
17 Tristan Palmer (GB) Vivaldi Racing Kawasaki ZX-10
19 Nick Medd (GB) ARCO Medd Racing Kawasaki ZX-10
21 Malcolm Ashley (GB) MAR Kawasaki ZX-10 • SC
23 Ryuichi Kionari (J) HM Plant Honda CBR RR
24 Richard Wren (GB) Virgin Mobile Yamaha YZF-R1
25 Dennis Hobbs (GB) Nvidia GR Motorsport Yamaha YZF-R1
26 Chris Martin (GB) Carmasters Racing Suzuki GSX-R • SC
33 Michael Laverty (IRL) Monstermob-Stobart Honda CBR RR
36 James Haydon (GB) GSE Racing Ducati 999 F04
37 Danny Beaumont (GB) JJL Racing Honda CBR RR • SC
43 Howie Mainwaring (GB) Bill Smith Racing Yamaha YZF-R1 • SC
44 John McGuinness (GB) AIM Racing Yamaha YZF-R1
50 Steve Brogan (GB) PR Branson Honda CBR RR • SC
56 James Buckingham (GB) Quay Racing Suzuki GSX-R • SC
65 Jonathan Rea (IRL) Red Bull Honda CBR RR
74 Kieran Clarke (GB) SMR Honda CBR RR
75 Glen Richards (AUS) Hawk Kawasaki Kawasaki ZX-10
77 Marty Nutt (IRL) Nuttravel.com Racing Honda CBR RR • SC
86 Julien Da Costa (F) MSS Discovery Racing Kawasaki ZX-10
88 Scott Smart (GB) Rizla Suzuki GSX-R
91 Leon Haslam (GB) GSE Racing Ducati 999 F04
TBA Monstermob-Stobart Honda CBR RR
TBA Colin Appleyard Racing TBA