Hyundai Construction Equipment British Championship update from Barry Nutley

[steve-e]

2019 will see new rules, new title sponsor, and champions galore in the line-up

With the sounds and sights of a thrilling 2018 season now behind us, eyes are firmly turned to the new year ahead.
Before that though, the FIM General Assembly and awards presentation takes place in Andorra la Vella over the weekend of December 1/2.
It is on that prestigious stage that Ben and Tom Birchall will stand to receive their outright World Championship Winner's Medals.
One month later, at the British Championship awards ceremony, the Santander Salt crews of Steve Kershaw/Stuart Clark and Todd Ellis/Charlie Richardson will be presented with their trophies for outright British and 600 Cup victories respectively.

Both these crews dominated their respective classes, with Ellis and Richardson distinguished as runners-up in the main title chase on a 600 Honda.

It is highly likely that these championship winning crews will be locking horns on track in the season ahead.
With both the World Championship and the British series now fully 600cc powered, it is widely expected that more British crews will venture abroad in 2019 to seek points in the FIM campaign. By the same token, subject to dates being free, World Series regulars could certainly compete here in Britain, as the Birchall Brothers did in 2018.
This presents the mouth-watering prospect of the best sidecar teams in the world competing head to head on a much more regular basis, whilst grids in both championships are likely to be better supported.

A provisional calendar has been drawn up, with nine rounds once again alongside the British Superbike Championship.

The final round of last season was witnessed by an unprecedented audience at Brands Hatch both trackside and live on Eurosport.

The quality of racing at that season closer underlined the value brought to the world's premier domestic Superbike championship, by adding the spectacle of top-class sidecar racing.
Now in its eighth year in the Superbike paddock, the British Sidecar Championship is an established part of the BSB race weekend, a fully fledged partner support series, and a highly popular attraction.

A tenth round, a repeat of last year's highly successful “Sidecar Revival” will be slotted into the calendar, with venue and date to be confirmed very shortly.
Close cooperation with the FSRA has resulted in a couple of date options which would see a full complement of F2 outfits adding yet more flavour to what is an outstanding festival of sidecar racing past and present.

Agreement has also been reached in a significant move to a new title sponsor. Whilst the deal is confirmed in principle, some details have yet to be finalised, and an official announcement will be made in the very near future.

Whilst the dates for the World rounds have yet to be published, the provisional calendar for the new-look British Sidecar Championship looks like this:

May 4-6 Oulton Park 1 x race
14-16 June Brands Hatch GP
28-30 June Knockhill 3 x races
12-14 July Snetterton
2-4 August Thruxton 3 x races
16-18 August Cadwell
20-22 September Assen
4-6 October Donington
18-20 October Brands GP Double points

Sidecar Revival date and venue to follow shortly