Description
By: Gary Pinchin .
In another closely fought scrap, the 2007 Bennetts British Superbike Championship was decided at the last round, as in 2006, and again it was Japanese star Ryuichi Kiyonari who clinched the title after dramatic twists and turns throughout the season.
The championship started with Gregorio Lavilla running away with it on the Airwaves Ducati, but Kiyo, his HM Plant Honda teammate Jonathan Rea and Leon Haslam reeled in the Spaniard when he hit problems mid-season. The championship went to the last round with Kiyo holding the upper hand but Rea and Haslam still mathematically in with a shout, should Kiyo have a bad weekend. Lavilla bounced back to end the season as he started it with two wins, but Kiyo took the title.
The story of BSB in 2007 wasn't just about two HM Plant Hondas and two Airwaves Ducatis. Though Stobart Honda's Shane Byrne was the only other rider outside the top four to win a race, the season saw a whole new crop of BSB riders emerge, with youngsters Tom Sykes, Cal Crutchlow and Leon Camier stepping up from Supersport to flex their muscles in the big league. Sykes, on the second Stobart Honda, came out as best rookie in terms of overall points and was on the podium five times. Crutchlow impressed, shouldering most of the development work on the Rizla Suzuki while his more experienced team-mate Chris Walker struggled. Camier was the star of the first half of the year on the Bike Animal Honda, but struggled mid-season with set-up problems and then badly broke his leg at Cadwell. BSB rode high all year. Healthy grids, lap records, record crowds — and fantastic TV coverage.
This book, the second Official British Superbike Season Review, captures all the excitement of yet another amazing year of racing. Gary Pinchin describes the action on and off the track as the season unfolded, complete with comprehensive data from each race. There's a technical assessment of each of the top Superbike teams plus a full review of the Maxxis British Supersport series, won by Michael Laverty on the Relentless by TAS Suzuki.
The Official British Superbike Season Review 2007, the definitive record of yet another brilliant season of the Bennetts British Superbike Championship, is a must-have for all fans of motorcycle racing.
