South African Bjorn Estment steps up to 2020 BSB grid with NP BMW

Bjorn Estment will step up to the 2020 British Superbike Championship this season after penning a deal to lead NP Motorcycles’ maiden season in the topflight.

The South African has become a regular within the BSB paddock over the years with stints in the National Superstock 1000, British Supersport and British GP2 Championship among his broad repertoire of experience.

For 2020 though Estment will progress all the way to the Superbike grid on a BMW S1000RR entered by NP Motorcycles, which too steps up from the Superstock 1000 series. The team competed in a handful of BSB rounds towards the tail end of 2019 with Ashley Beech, ahead of confirming a full season this year.

Estment’s signing comes as a dovetail to his Endurance World Championship commitments, where he is a top five finisher on BMW machinery.

“I’m really excited and looking forward to the opportunity the NP Motorcycles team have given me to line up on the Bennetts British Superbike grid. This is a great moment in my career as worldwide the series is highly regarded and surely the most competitive and professional domestic championship around the globe.

“I really enjoyed my experience on a Superbike in EWC and we took a P4 finish at the Bol’dor last year. Myself and the team are realistic about the job at hand and are aiming for a step-by-step approach into the season and aiming for continued improvement along the way as there will be a lot to learn. I’m really looking forward to this new challenge and to gelling with the squad and the BMW S1000 RR Superbike.

“I want to say a massive thanks to all the people in my corner who have consistently stood by me and who make these opportunities possible. I’m currently hard at work training in South Africa both on a bike and off it - I can’t wait to get going when I return to the UK next week.”

Team Owner Neil Pearson commented: "I am so excited to have Bjorn join the NP Motorcycles team to ride our superbike in the 2020 season. Bjorn is a proven rider and I feel he will adapt well to the superbike. We have set some realistic goals. We know it will be hard but we are both up for the challenge."

Matt Truelove returns on Yamaha for 2020 BSB season 

In other news, Matt Truelove has confirmed his place on the 2020 BSB grid with Truelove Brothers Racing, entering a Yamaha R1 with technical assistance from the Raceways team he competed with in 2019.

Truelove was a regular race finisher in 2020, but came away empty-handed. Nonetheless, his presence raises the Yamaha contingent to five and brings the overall number of BSB riders to 26.

I really enjoyed my first season in BSB and the challenges that came with it. I’ve had a lot of time to analyse on how I needed to improve and put those changes into place. It feels like the season is coming round so quickly and we will be as prepared as we can.

“I’m looking forward to getting the season started and getting my first points. Steve and the team at Raceways Yamaha have been a massive help in the off season improving the bike, so no doubt from the outset we should be more competitive.”

2020 BSB Rider Line-up