Redding: BSB opener needs more balls than skill

Scott Redding believes his Bennetts British Superbike championship debut will require “more balls than skill at times” on the Silverstone national circuit layout as he takes on his maiden campaign in Superbike racing.

The 26-year-old moves from MotoGP to BSB this season teaming up with Paul Bird’s Be Wiser Ducati squad, who backed him in various junior championships at the start of his career, and is equipped with the new Panigale V4 R.

With the new Ducati taking World Superbike championship by storm, seeing Alvaro Bautista win every race across the opening four rounds, Redding acknowledges he’ll take up the focus on his BSB debut as a star attraction.

Redding also faces the challenge of getting up to speed with a new race weekend format, with two races on Sunday compared to his Grand Prix days, along with a number of circuits he has not compete at in his career starting at the 2019 opener on Silverstone’s national track layout. Redding’s previous Silverstone outing, on the international circuit, was cut short when last year’s British MotoGP was cancelled due to track safety concerns.

“The shorter track at Silverstone means there’s going to be lots of action and you need more balls than skill at times. The bike is good, the team is excellent and I’m ready so let’s get this started,” Redding said.

“I’m really excited going into the first round and to compete in my first BSB races at Silverstone. It’s going to be tough as the format is different as I’m not used to doing two races in a day, there’s the new tracks I’m going to have to adapt to and of course, there are the fantastic fans to race in front of.”

After impressing during pre-season tests in Spain and Portugal, team coordinator John Mowatt is relishing on a new era for the PBM-run squad with Redding and team-mate Josh Brookes in the garage as it targets the BSB title.

“These are exciting times for the Be Wiser Ducati British Superbike Team with a whole new rider line-up and a fantastic brand-new bike for 2019,” Mowatt said.

“Scott and Josh have integrated well into the team and we have made excellent strides with the Be Wiser Ducati Panigale V4 R in pre-season testing.

“Hopefully the weather will be good over Easter and both Josh and Scott can make a great start to winning back the BSB title we last held in 2016 and 2017.”