British Superbike Championship 2022 - When does the season start, how to watch and who is involved?

When does the 2022 British Superbike Championship season begin?

The first meeting of the season will take place on April 15-17, 2022.

How to watch 2022 British Superbike Championship?

Donington Park GP'Incredible drama' - O'Halloran holds off Bridewell to win Race 3 at Donington00:02:30|19/05/2024 at 17:53

Every race will be available live on Eurosport and discovery+ with the best of the action and instant highlights across social media.

You can sign up to discovery+ here.

RACE WEEKEND

All 11 rounds of the 2022 BSB season operate a three-race format spread over a three-day race weekend that will also include practice and qualifying sessions.

The first day will see free practice sessions 1 and 2. The 12 fastest from those sessions will be seeded for Qualifying (Q2) on the second day..

The second day will open with a third, shorter practice session followed by a first Qualifying (Q1) session excluding the 12 seeded riders. The fastest six from that qualifying session will join the pre-seeded 12 in Qualifying (Q2) to fight it out for pole in the first race of the weekend, which will take place later on day 2.

The third day will consist of a warm-up and the second and third races of the weekend. Pole position in Race 2 and 3 will be determined by the fastest lap in the previous race; therefore the rider who sets the fastest lap in Race 1 will start on pole in Race 2, and the rider who sets the fastest lap in Race 2 will take pole for Race 3.

Day 1

Practice 1
Practice 2

Day 2

Practice 3
Qualifying (Q1)
Qualifying (Q2)
Race 1

Day 3:

Warm Up
Race 2
Race 3

Format

There will be 11 rounds of racing over the course of the season with the first eight making up the ‘regular’ season and the final three races known as the ‘Showdown’.

The top eight riders from the regular season compete in the Showdown for the championship.

Scoring

Position	Points
1st	25
2nd	20
3rd	16
4th	13
5th	11
6th	10
7th	9
8th	8
9th	7
10th	6
11th	5
12th	4
13th	3
14th	2
15th	1

In addition, podium points are awarded during the regular season (five points for a win, three for second and one for third).

During the Showdown, the eight riders are awarded a starting total of 1000 points, plus their podium points earned. These riders then score points in the usual manner over these three races. No additional podium points are awarded during these final races.

Championship favourites

Tom Sykes

The 2013 Superbike World Championship winner returns to the British Superbike Championship for the first time since 2008, when he finished 4th. He has had 18 podiums and five wins from 55 BSB starts, and will ride for MCE Ducati in 2022. His team-mate will be 2020 BSB champion Josh Brookes.

Leon Haslam

2018 BSB winner Haslam returns to the championship with a record of 102 podiums and 46 wins from 192 starts. Having finished 13th in the 2021 Superbike World Championship, the 38-year-old - competing on a Kawasaki for Lee Hardy Racing– will start as one of the favourites.

Tarran Mackenzie

The defending champion - and son of three-time BSB champion Niall Mackenzie - collected 10 of his 13 wins in his four-year BSB career last year. He returns on a Yamaha for McAMS alongside Jason O'Halloran, who finished 3rd last year. However, surgery on an ankle fracture suffered during testing at Silverstone for Mackenzie could derail his title defence.

Jason O'Halloran

O'Halloran has finished 10th, 2nd and 3rd since a year in the Superbike World Championship in 2018, and collected 11 wins on his way to 3rd spot last year. Mackenzie’s fracture has ruled him out of the opening round, so could that prove pivotal?

Riders, teams and bikes

1 Tarran Mackenzie (GBR) McAMS Yamaha - Yamaha YZF-R1

2 Glenn Irwin (GBR) Honda Racing UK - Honda CBR1000RR-R

4 Dan Linfoot (GBR) iForce BMW - BMW M 1000 RR

5 Dean Harrison (GBR) Dao Racing Kawasaki - Kawasaki ZX-10RR

7 Ryan Vickers (GBR) FHO Racing BMW - BMW M 1000 RR

10 Joe Sheldon-Shaw (GBR) NP Motorcycles BMW - BMW M 1000 RR

2022 race calendar

April 15 – 17 - Silverstone National
April 30 – May 2 - Oulton Park
May 20 – 22 - Donington Park National
June 17 – 19 - Knockhill
July 22 – 24 - Brands Hatch GP
Aug 12 – 14 - Thruxton
Aug 27 – 29 - Cadwell Park
Sept 9 – 11 - Snetterton 300
Sept 23 – 25 - Oulton Park
Sept 30 – Oct 2 - Donington Park GP
Oct 14 – 16 - Brands Hatch GP

Donington Park GPIrwin secures win in Race 2 of British Superbike Championship weekend at Donington Park00:02:24|19/05/2024 at 16:53

Donington Park GPRyde wins Race 1 at Donington Park after red flag due to Iddon crash00:03:42|18/05/2024 at 17:56

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British Superbike Championship 2022 - When does the season start, how to watch and who is involved? - Eurosport (2024)