Paul Bird Motorsport has confirmed its rider line-up for the 2020 British Superbike Championship with Christian Iddon replacing outgoing title-winner Scott Redding and joining the re-signed Josh Brookes on the works Ducati Panigale V4 R.
PBM largely dominated the 2019 season with the all-new V4 Ducati, with ex-MotoGP Redding defeating Brookes by only a handful of points at the Brands Hatch finale, the pair having accumulated 21 wins from 26 races.
However, with Redding heading to the WorldSBK Championship to head up the factory Ducati team on the international stage, it has chosen experienced British rider Iddon as his replacement.
Twice a BSB Riders’ Cup winner – for finishing as the top non-Title Showdown competitor – Iddon joins the multiple title-winning team after three seasons with Tyco BMW.
“This is a dream opportunity for me for which I can’t thank Paul and the PBM team enough and I intend to grab it with both hands. I know this is a prized ride with such a good team and bike, so I plan on making the most of it. I’ve worked incredibly hard over the years but never quite had luck on my side so with my 100% focus like I’ve always had, I hope to repay their faith. I have some big boots to fill for sure, but I can’t wait to get started and I’m looking forward to the challenges ahead.”
Brookes, meanwhile, is set to come into the season as a hot favourite having come close to winning a second career BSB title in his first campaign working with PBM.
“I’m very pleased to receive another chance of success with the PBM team. We came so close this year that it gives me more motivation to come back again. This time with a year of experience on the bike I will be better prepared for the task and my ideas on how to improve the package are already flowing. For Christian, I think joining the team is a great opportunity for him. As a rival I recognise his potential and I believe the team can supply everything needed to bring him to the front and be a championship contender.”
‘A dream opportunity’ for Christian Iddon to prove himself
This is a huge chance for Iddon to prove himself having earned the unwanted mantle of one of BSB’s more unlucky riders, whether it has been uncompetitive machinery, injuries or just sheer misfortune.
Remarkably, despite being regarded as one of BSB’s more consistent front runners, he is yet to win a BSB race, though he has accumulated an impressive twelve podiums.
And yet, despite this record, such is the quality of the PBM team he is joining for BSB 2020, Iddon should still be regarded as a potential title contender having batted up at the sharp end of the field, even if the limitations of his Tyco BMW package over the past three seasons meant he couldn’t quite get the job done.
Of course though, Brookes comes into 2020 as the big title favourite on the back of a strong 2019 season even if he still faces stiff opposition from the FS-3 Racing now it has official Kawasaki support and McAMS with its fleet of new Yamaha R1s, while Tommy Bridewell will surely be up there again on the privateer Oxford Racing Ducati.
