On 31 March 1996 at Donington Park, the British Superbike Championship launched, as we know it today, with a packed grid of 33 riders qualifying for the opening event.
Niall Mackenzie became the first BSB race-winner onboard the Cadbury’s Boost Yamaha YZF750, following a 500cc Grand Prix career, sharing the victories with Terry Rymer on the Old Spice Ducati 955, who had also previously featured on the world stage.
The historic first round also saw Steve Hislop and Ian Simpson celebrating podium finishes, whilst it also marked James Whitham’s racing return after battling Hodgkin's lymphoma. A technical problem and a crash wasn’t the start he had hoped for, but as the season progressed he fought with teammate Niall Mackenzie for the title.
31 March 2026
