Silverstone, April 2023.

First National meeting of the year and as ever it was hectic. Having only ridden the Superstock bike once prior to the weekend, since October, I was always going to be up against it given the depth of the field. Thankfully Mr Gardner and Mr Curran put a bike underneath me which can do the job and I am grateful for that. The pace as always was quick from the outset and with numbers of competitors high I knew I was going to have to work hard. 

The National Superstock class is using slick tyres this year for the first time ever so that was another factor to contend with. Silverstone is abrasive and notoriously hard on tyres so a specific compound has to be used in the rear of the bike. FP1 saw my lap times slightly off but I knew there was more to come and I finished in 41st place overall and 43rd combined FP1/2. 3/4 of a second away from a PB. 

Bike felt good but I just needed to re-calibrate my brain to how quickly I needed to ride just to qualify. I was feeling confident for FP2 but unfortunately it turned into a workout rather than a riding session. Three laps in, as I turned into Brooklands at the end of the Wellington straight the bike made a louder than usual crackle on the overrun and when I got on the gas it just died on me. As I rolled onto the kerb on the inside of Luffield the rider behind me tapped his tank as he went by. He must've been able to smell the fuel. The main fuel line had become detached from the pump under the tank and essentially I had run out of fuel. Thankfully it happened where it did and I turned the bike off straight away so no real damage done. I ended up pushing the bike back to the race truck so at least I got a bit of fitness out of it. That whole scenario meant I was on the back foot for qualifying. 

I knew I needed to go out in qualifying and push hard straight away. That’s exactly what I did. Within a lap I was within .5 of a PB and knew I had a new tyre ready to go in pitlane for the second half of the session. I came in with about 10 minutes to go for a change and the crew worked fast. As I left I knew it was going to be a challenge to qualify within the top 40 for a slot on the grid. My last three laps were my quickest and I was just about to push for one more. As I came through T1 a rider had run wide and came back onto the track as I approached T2. Every thing was perfectly safe but I rolled the throttle ever so slightly because I was uncertain what he might do. That killed that lap but I figured I’d go again on the next lap. It wasn’t to be and although I was within a tenth of my PB the chequered flag was out. I then had to wait to see how the riders in group B went to determine whether I was on the grid for race 1. I finished 41st overall again so didn’t make the grid on Saturday. 

Not making the grid had a plus side though. It meant I wasn't too pushed for time to help one of the team’s younger associate riders. Grid duties and pit board for him to get him away in a calm fashion for his first Junior Supersport race of the season. 

It’s nothing new to me to miss out on making the grid due to numbers. I readily accept that I am at the back of the class but the first meetings are usually over subscribed, hence two FP and Qualifying groups. Positives from a negative and all that, it meant I got to watch the race and try and learn a few things from quicker riders. Now I don’t wish ill on anyone but I knew that there was a good chance someone would have an issue and I would get a slot for Sunday. That’s exactly what happened and a couple of riders didn’t make the grid. From what I could tell Scott Swann and James Hillier dropped out which meant I was out for Warm-up on Sunday morning. The bike was ready so it was just a case of putting a used set of tyres in and rolling out. 

P39 on the grid for the afternoon and all I needed to do was get a finish to prove the bike was good. Reasonable start and got settled in behind the two riders who were in front on the grid. I could see my lap times coming down on my timer and pushed quite early on for a PB. That led to me catching and passing the two in front. I knew I needed to get my racing with others done before the latter stages because getting lapped by the leaders was inevitable. Once the blue flags came out with about 5 laps to go the dynamic of my race changes. I have to work hard to try not to get in the way as well as keeping the pace up. I only lost a bit of time when the initial three riders passed me, after that the others seemed to catch me on the straights so it was an easy task to keep out of the way. I finished in P28 from 40 starters and with a PB. I couldn’t really ask for much more given how the weekend went. I’m now ready for the next round at Oulton Park, albeit the qualifying format is slightly different so will see how that goes. 

Huge thanks to all crew and sponsors for doing what they do to keep the team going. 

Suzuki has confirmed its withdrawal from the British Superbike Championship, ahead of the 2023 season. Aligning with its global racing strategy – which saw the termination of its MotoGP project as well as a scaling back of factory support in the Endurance World Championship – and following the departure of the current GSX-R1000R model from European markets, Suzuki has suspended its official involvement in the premier domestic superbike series. Over the past six seasons – in partnership with Hawk Racing – the Suzuki GSX-R1000R has won superbike and superstock races with the likes of Bradley Ray, Richard Cooper, Sylvain Guintoli, Kyle Ryde, Gino Rea, Tim Neave, Billy McConnell, and Charlie Nesbitt behind the ‘bars. And in 2019 Cooper also helped steer Suzuki and Hawk Racing to the National Superstock 1000 Championship title. There has also been success on the roads, with Cooper taking podium finishes at the North West 200, while Michael Dunlop raced the GSX-R to victory in the 2017 Senior TT, the bike’s first appearance at the prestigious Isle of Man TT races. Suzuki would like to thank the riders and fans for their support, and especially Steve and Stuart Hicken and everyone at Hawk Racing for their hard work and dedication over the last six years, without which none of those historic results would have been possible. Everyone at Suzuki wishes the team well for the future. Suzuki will continue to support racers campaigning GSX-R machinery at all levels via its Race Parts Programme.

Honda Racing UK is pleased to confirm a refreshed but familiar lineup for the 2023 Bennetts British Superbike Championship season, welcoming back to the family Andrew Irwin alongside Tom Neave aboard the race-winning Honda CBR1000RR-R Fireblade SP. Andrew has already enjoyed some key milestones with Honda Racing UK, including his first-ever BSB victory at Thruxton in 2019 and victory at Donington Park in what was the debut race for the all-new Fireblade, and he is warmly welcomed back to the Honda Racing family. Tom Neave remains with the Louth-based squad for his second year in the premier class. After a maiden learning season in 2022, the 2021 Pirelli National Superstock Champion is ready to take the next step in his superbike ascent aboard the #68 Fireblade SP. Japanese riders Ryo Mizuno and Takumi Takahashi will move to racing pastures new for the 2023 season. Having enjoyed two seasons of learning new circuits, a new paddock and new culture, the next step in their career will see them leave the BSB paddock, and Honda Racing UK thank them for their contribution to the team. Given their wealth of experience, it is hoped that they will still support the team during testing both before and during next season. Returning to a two-bike team for the 2023 season will see Honda Racing UK continue the absolute focus and commitment which brought five victories and a further five podiums in 2022 with the Fireblade SP. Many of these successes were gained towards the latter stages of the season in the Showdown during which Honda Racing UK outscored all the competition. The focus will be to build on this race winning momentum into next year. Both Andrew and Tom will be attending 2022 Motorcycle Live BSB Sunday on 20th November. Plans for the Honda Racing UK 2023 Roads programme will be announced at a later date. The 2023 British Superbike season gets underway at Silverstone on 7-9 April.

Glenn Irwin, Winner Race 3. Brands Hatch Oct 2022.

Final race of the year and this fella bagged the top step. 

Brad Ray, OMG Racing. BSB Champions 2022. 

I always stop what I am doing at the last meeting of the year and head to pit lane to watch the final race of the season. I also make a point of documenting some of what goes on. Brad had already secured the championship in the first race of the weekend and losing Chrissy Rouse at Donington was still fresh in our minds so, out of respect, it was never going to be the show it usually is. 

I knew before I even developed this roll that the set of negatives were going to be important. For now they are current but as time rolls on I envisage them becoming an important part of my archive from my years in the paddock. 

I still don’t have a clear idea of where I want to go with my “We are Racers” imagery but I’m sure some of these frames will end up there.