Official 2008 Bennetts British Superbike entry list

OFFICIAL 2008 BENNETTS BRITISH SUPERBIKE CHAMPIONSHIP ENTRY LIST
A healthy mix of experience and young-guns hungry for success feature in the 31 strong rider line-up confirmed for this year’s Bennetts British Superbike Championship.

The HM Plant Honda team, who have powered the champion in each of the past two seasons have Leon Haslam taking over the top ride and he is joined by 2006 British Supersport champion Cal Crutchlow.

Both have been on the pace in testing but face strong opposition from the Rizla Suzuki equipe featuring 2007 ‘rookie of the year’ Tom Sykes, paired with double-Japanese Superbike Champion Atsushi Watanabe. A third Suzuki, running in Relentless colours, in the hands of reigning British Supersport Champion Michael Laverty will also pose a threat.

Shane Byrne, British Superbike Champion with Ducati five years ago, is back with the latest racing version of the Italian bike, the 1098R, for the Airwaves team alongside Leon Camier.

Stuart Easton, another former Supersport title winner, lines up for the factory-backed MSS Discovery Kawasaki team, with Australian Billy McConnell as his teammate.

Guy Martin, renowned for his road racing abilities, rides for Hydrex–Bike Animal Honda alongside former MotoGP rider James Ellison, who has his elder brother Dean as a rival on the Co-ordit Yamaha.

Karl Harris, the fourth former Supersport champion on the grid, rides for Team Yamaha, while there is wealth of experience in the Hawk Kawasaki line-up in the shape of Scott Smart and James Haydon. Michael Rutter rides for the North West 200 Ducati team, while Chris Burns is aboard the STP MV-Agusta.

The Superbike Privateers Cup has a strong entry list, with Malcolm Ashley having Russian backing for his ARP Kawasaki as he takes on the likes of Tom Tunstall, Luke Quigley and Martin Jessopp.

The 12 round Bennetts British Superbike Championship begins at Brands Hatch on Sunday 6 April.

2008 BENNETTS BRITISH SUPERBIKE CHAMPIONSHIP - PROVISIONAL ENTRY LIST

NO	RIDER	NAT	HOME TOWN	TEAM
2	Leon Camier	GB	Wimborne	Airwaves Ducati
3	Stuart Easton	GB	Hawick	MSS-Discovery Kawasaki
4	Michael Laverty	GB	Toomebridge	Relentless Suzuki by TAS
5	Karl Harris	GB	Sheffield	RM Yamaha
6	James Haydon	GB	Berkhamsted	Hawk
7	James Ellison	GB	Kendal	Hydrex-Bike Animal Honda
8	Billy McConnell	AUS		MSS-Discovery Kawasaki
9	Guy Martin	GB	Kirmington	Hydrex-Bike Animal Honda
11	Adam Jenkinson	GB	Manchester	SMT Honda
14	Atsushi Watanabe	JPN		Rizla Suzuki
17	Simon Andrews	GB	Evesham	Lloyds British Jentin Yamaha
21	Tom Tunstall	GB	Huddersfield	Hardinge Ice Valley Motorsport (P)
22	Steve Plater	GB	Woodhall Spa	AIM Yamaha
27	Tristan Palmer	GB	Nuneaton	TENA for Men Honda
33	Michael Howarth	GB	Burnley	TENA for Men Honda (P)
35	Cal Crutchlow	GB	Coventry	HM Plant Honda
40	Martin Jessopp	GB	Yeovil	Riders Honda (P)
51	Luke Quigley	GB	Brierley Hill	PDM Racing (P)
53	Chris Burns	GB	Newcastle	STP – MV Agusta
56	James Buckingham	GB	Ilfracombe	Quay Honda (P)
63	Steve Mercer	GB	Maidstone	Bob Farnham Tuning (P)
64	Aaron Zanotti	GB	Loughborough	Red Viper Honda
66	Tom Sykes	GB	Huddersfield	Rizla Suzuki
67	Shane Byrne	GB	Zurich	Airwaves Ducati
68	David Johnson	AUS		PR Branson Honda
88	Scott Smart	GB	Maidstone	Hawk
91	Leon Haslam	GB	Derby	HM Plant Honda
99	Brian McCormack	IRL	Tramore	TAG Honda MAC Racing
111	Malcolm Ashley	GB	Stoke Golding	MAR–ARP Kawasaki (P)
118	Dean Ellison	GB	Leicester	Co-ordit Yamaha
200	Michael Rutter	GB	Brierley Hill	North West 200 Ducati