The 2015 MCE British Superbike Championship gets underway at Donington Park – let battle commence!

Courtesy of BSB British Superbike

After six months of waiting, the MCE Insurance British Superbike Championship will explode into life this weekend (4/5/6 April) for the opening round of the 2015 season at Donington Park. Nearly 40 riders from across the world will line up in this year’s championship, with an unknown mix of upcoming young riders and rookies going up against the established guard. 2015 Championship to feature nearly 40 riders representing 12 nations (UK, Japan, Australia, Italy, Denmark, Sweden, Brazil, Czech Republic, Spain, South Africa) Seven of the world’s biggest manufacturers represented in 2015 (Kawasaki, BMW, Yamaha, Honda, Suzuki, Ducati, MV Agusta) Clash of the champions Shane ‘Shakey’ Byrne (Sittingbourne) returns as the defending four-time champion, but starts the opening round still recovering from a heavy winter testing crash. The PBM Kawasaki rider underwent surgery just three weeks ago on broken bones in his hand and despite topping the recent official test, knows the two 20-lap races will be a tough way to start his campaign. Byrne said: “We have done absolutely everything possible to be ready for this weekend. I have the last few days now to spend some more time in the hyperbaric chamber and possibly have some more laser therapy and whatever else to get it all under control. “The test was extremely successful; I wasn’t sure how my hand was going to be as I haven’t done a lot of laps pre-season, so to come out and be fastest was good. I am hopefully going to get a fair bit by the first round. There will be guys who say they felt great and have never been fitter, but I would definitely be lying if I said that right now. Donington comes hard when you are fit and strong, so fingers crossed we will be another step faster.” Byrne’s championship nemesis from 2014, Ryuichi Kiyonari (Louth) returns with the Buildbase BMW team and has his focus set on equalling his rival’s four titles. The Japanese ace had been setting the pace at the Donington Park official test before crashing out in the closing stages unhurt and heads to the event with confidence high after his double win at the track in 2014. Kiyonari said: “I am very happy with how we finished the test last week because that was only our third test.  I felt sore after the crash, but I will still be pushing hard this weekend and I am feeling confident. I think Donington Park is a good place to start the championship for me, the team and BMW as we had a double win there last year. We will be trying everything we can to keep pushing harder!” World class grid lines-up to take on Shakey The 2015 season marks the full-time debut of Australian Broc Parkes in the Milwaukee Yamaha squad alongside multiple title contender Josh Brookes. Parkes joins the MCE BSB grid from MotoGP, and has previously been a World Supersport Championship runner-up. He also scored MCE BSB podium finishes when he was a wild-card at Brands Hatch during the 2009 season. Parkes said: “It is definitely going to be an experience for me at the first round as I haven’t raced with many of the riders. There are a lot of young riders who want to make a name for themselves and we know the first round will be the most difficult for us as we develop the new Yamaha. It is hard to know what to expect – but I normally race better, so come Monday I am hoping we will be ready.” Australian Billy McConnell steps up to the Superbike class after lifting the Motorpoint British Supersport Championship with the Smiths Racing team last season and there is more international flavour in the shape of Robbin Harms (Denmark), Jakub Smrz (Czech) and Filip Backlund (Sweden). The mighty Honda Racing return Title-winners Honda Racing return for the 2015 campaign after their development season following their championship win with Alex Lowes in 2013. A three-strong rider line-up of Showdown contender Dan Linfoot (Knaresborough), Jason O’Halloran (Market Rasen) and racing’s fastest female Jenny Tinmouth (Ellesmere Port), means the team are back in force for the new campaign. The established contenders Race-winner James Ellison (Kendal) meanwhile returns with the JG Speedfit Kawasaki team, whilst Tommy Bridewell (Devizes) switches to the Tyco BMW team alongside Michael Laverty (Toomebridge) who returns from MotoGP. Young pretenders set to make their mark The young guns are ready to shake up the order and 21-year-old Danny Buchan (Essex) has already made an impression, ending the official test second fastest on the Be Wiser Kawasaki, the new team managed by 2011 champion Tommy Hill. Buchan said: “We were chipping away at the test and the times were coming easily. I spoke to my crew chief at the end of the day and there is so much more still to come. It has been a good start and I have a great team behind me so we are really excited to see what we can do.” Quattro Plant Kawasaki’s 22-year-old Luke Mossey (Cambridge) and Team WD40 Kawasaki’s Taylor Mackenzie are also lining up ready to make their mark in their debut season after challenging in the Motorpoint British Supersport Championship. TT stars set for first 2015 competition The opening round of the season has also prompted some one-off appearances from TT contenders Ian Hutchinson (PBM Kawasaki) in the MCE BSB class and TV star and road race hero Guy Martin with the Smiths Racing Triumph team in the Motorpoint British Supersport Championship. Global Media Coverage The MCE BSB global media footprint reaches to all corners of the world with over 300 hours of UK TV coverage on British Eurosport (80 hours live) and free to air on ITV4. The championship’s worldwide coverage extends to Asia- Pacific and North America and Canada. For the latest images to download for media use please click here Get ready for the 2015 MCE British Superbike Championship season!

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