OFFICIAL 2008 BENNETTS BRITISH SUPERBIKE CHAMPIONSHIP ENTRY LIST

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 WatanabeJPN  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 BuckinghamGB 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