2020 BSB Rider Line-up (so far…)

The sun has only just set and the confetti cleared following the final round of the 2019 British Superbike Championship but already attentions are turning to 2020 with a number of teams unveiling riders with a good few months of the impending off-season to come.

With title winner Scott Redding’s now deep into preparations for the 2020 WorldSBK Championship, the coveted #1 plate will be missing from the 2020 BSB grid – so who is in line to succeed him?

Who is confirmed on the 2020 BSB grid?

All teams that reached the 2019 Title Showdown – Paul Bird Motorsport, Oxford Racing, FS-3 Racing, McAMS and Smiths Racing – have confirmed their line-ups for the 2020 season with only minor changes to their winning formulas.

Runner-up Brookes will be looking to go one better in 2020 with the Paul Bird Motorsport team on the dominant Ducati V4 R and he will be joined by Christian Iddon, who switches from Tyco BMW. The Briton is something of a stalwart in BSB terms and can often be seen fighting at the front even if – surprisingly - he is yet to win a race at BSB level.

Tommy Bridewell enjoyed a sharp revival of form in 2019 on the back of his first full season with the Oxford Racing (nee Moto Rapido) team and will be looking to turn regular podiums into regular wins next year.

FS-3 Racing Kawasaki gains official manufacturer for the first time in 2020 on the back of its superb campaign, plus a new title sponsor in Massingberd Mundy. It retains Danny Buchan and expands to run a second Kawasaki ZX-10RR for its Superstock 1000 standout Lee Jackson.

McAMS remains unchanged in terms of rider for 2020 with Tarran Mackenzie and Jason O’Halloran, but will enter the latest generation Yamaha YZF-R1, as will Santander Salt TAG Racing, which retains Dan Linfoot and signs double British Supersport Champion Jack Kennedy.

BMW will be represented by at least four teams and seven riders with the factory-supported Tyco (TAS Racing) team luring Bradley Ray and promoting Taylor Mackenzie following his eye-catching stand-in performances towards the end of 2019. Having reached the Title Showdown for a third year in a row, Smiths Racing retains Peter Hickman and hires Alex Olsen for a full campaign.

Meanwhile, OMG Racing switches from Suzuki to BMW power for the 2020 BSB season with Luke Mossey being joined by former MotoGP rider Hector Barbera, while Joe Francis continues with PR Racing.

Over at Suzuki, the Hawk Racing Buildbase-branded team sports a new line-up with Keith Farmer doing a direct swap with Bradley Ray, while Kyle Ryde steps up from the Supersport class.

Honda will run the new CBR1000RR-R with the brothers Irwin, Glenn and Andrew joining together for the first time. 

What is still to be announced?

Of those yet to be confirmed, 2018 champions Quattro Plant Kawasaki haven't confirmed their 2020 BSB plans but admitted earlier this year it would reconsider competing on the back of a disappointing 2019 campaign that lost it official Kawasaki UK backing.

Elsewhere, RAF Regular & Reserves Kawasaki are almost certainly set to retain teenager Ryan Vickers as he continues his mighty transition from Superstock 600 to Superbikes, while Team WD-40 and Gearlink haven't announced any 2020 BSB plans as yet.

As for top riders, Luke Stapleford is the highest-placed 2019 BSB rider yet to have their plans formalised though it is confirmed he won't be riding with Buildbase Suzuki. Others withoutr a ride include Claudio Corti, Josh Elliott and James Ellison. 

2020 BSB Rider line-up so far