There are six rookies ready to take on the established guard in the Bennetts British Superbike Championship when the season gets underway at Silverstone this Easter weekend (April 7/8/9), all bidding to build momentum during their debut season.
Three of the four Support Class Champions will enter their first full season; Pirelli National Superstock Champion Davey Todd got an initial taste of Bennetts BSB at the final round last season. Whilst Quattro Group British GP2 Champion Jack Scott and Pirelli Junior Superstock Champion Max Cook will make their race debut on Saturday in the Bennetts BikeSocial Sprint Race.
Joining them in the rookie ranks will be Superstock graduates Tim Neave and Charlie Nesbitt, plus Supersport title contender Bradley Perie.
Tim Neave: “If we get off to a strong start then I will be happy!”
Tim Neave makes the full-time move into Bennetts BSB with McAMS Yamaha and the Superstock race winner is already feeling at home on the R1 despite the mixed conditions in pre-season testing.
Tim Neave said: "I can't tell you how much I'm looking forward to this weekend. The weather impacted all of our testing and I didn't do a single lap in dry conditions. But all things considered, I felt more comfortable each time I rode the bike in the wet and at Silverstone we weren't too far off in terms of lap time - my last lap of the test was actually quite strong, but unfortunately it didn't count as the red flag came out.
“Silverstone has always been a strong circuit for me and the R1 has had some incredible results there in recent years so I'm hoping we can get off to a strong start. It's difficult as with being a rookie I don't want to place a number on where I want to be, but if we can get off to a strong start, keep learning and improving in every session then I'll be happy!"
Nesbitt: “I am looking forward to the challenge”
Charlie Nesbitt has also had an initial experience of Bennetts BSB but the previous British Motostar and GP2 Champion admits he is already enjoying the feeling with the new MasterMac Honda by Hawk Racing Fireblade.
Nesbitt said: “Testing has been fairly good to be fair; I am feeling comfortable on the bike already even though we have only had a few days and it is feeling more and more like my bike every time we go out. The Honda is fantastic and does everything really well straight out of the box and we need to try and turn it into my feeling but we can do that over the first couple of sessions and I am really looking forward to getting out for the first round and seeing what we can do.
“I am not trying to expect too much in my first season; there is no pressure I am putting on myself or from the team, I just want to do the best we can and we are adapting to the new bike. I am looking forward to my first full season in BSB; it is an uphill learning year but I am looking forward to the challenge.”
Perie: "I have been trying to absorb as much information as possible!"
Bradley Perie completes the rookie line up for 2023 for the Lee Hardy Racing Kawasaki team and looking to build into the season after finishing runner-up in last year’s Quattro Group British Supersport Championship to Jack Kennedy.
Perie said: “I am really looking forward to the new season and I have been trying to absorb as much information as possible going into my first year in the Superbike class. Lee and the rest of the team have been really welcoming and supportive. We know that it won’t be easy, there are some weekends where some go well, some that are a challenge but we just need to learn and build from it so that it gives us something to progress with. I am not too sure what to expect from Silverstone this weekend, fingers crossed we can have a good start to the season and go from there.”