Who To Watch In British Superbike For 2014 + Video
While AMA road racing used to be considered one of the best national championships in the world, there’s no questioning the British Superbike Championship holds that crown now. With almost every major manufacturer participating in the series, along with some top caliber riders from across the globe — including American John Hopkins — the 2014 season is shaping up to be another great one. The opening round of the season is two weeks away at Brands Hatch, April 18-21.
In this video, get a closer look at all the teams and riders who are sure to grab attention throughout the year. With defending champion Alex Lowes off to World Superbikes, the clear title favorite is three-time champ Shane “Shakey” Byrne. He and Lowes fought tooth and nail last year with Alex narrowly taking the crown. Now Byrne is hungry for his fourth title.
But there’s stiff competition from a wide variety of fronts, not least of which is John Hopkins, the American MotoGP refugee who narrowly lost the closest BSB title chase in the history of the series to Tommy Hill. The BSB series is known for close racing and a wide disparity of motorcycles all able to fight at the front. The formula seems to be working, as the series is surging in popularity. Now if only the AMA could learn a thing or two from them, we might be able to bring back some former short circuit road racing glory to this side of the Atlantic.
Troy's been riding motorcycles and writing about them since 2006, getting his start at Rider Magazine. From there, he moved to Sport Rider Magazine before finally landing at Motorcycle.com in 2011. A lifelong gearhead who didn't fully immerse himself in motorcycles until his teenage years, Troy's interests have always been in technology, performance, and going fast. Naturally, racing was the perfect avenue to combine all three. Troy has been racing nearly as long as he's been riding and has competed at the AMA national level. He's also won multiple club races throughout the country, culminating in a Utah Sport Bike Association championship in 2011. He has been invited as a guest instructor for the Yamaha Champions Riding School, and when he's not out riding, he's either wrenching on bikes or watching MotoGP.
More by Troy Siahaan
Comments
Join the conversation