When crews arrive at Cadwell Park for the opening round of the 2020 season, there will be a new face responsible for all Sidecar Paddock disciplines and behaviour.
Gary Bryan
The vastly experienced Gary Bryan has enjoyed a long sidecar association, with Isle of Man TT success to his name, as well as F1 and F2 Championship honours.
Stepping back from active short-circuit competition to care-take and manage his stepson Todd Ellis, Gary has accepted the role of Paddock Manager for Roger Body’s RKB-F1 organisation. This wealth of experience, combined with Gary’s “no-nonsense” manner, will be ideally suited to the many challenges facing him on every race weekend
The role has been officially recognised by MSVR with whom he will be working closely on BSB weekends, ensuring the Sidecar fraternity maintains its high standards.
All crews are therefore reminded that Gary is working on behalf of them and the sidecar family in general to maximise and maintain the good reputation we have earned over many seasons.
We all wish Gary all the best in this new venture and give him our total support.
August 8/9th will go down in history as the weekend the long wait for British Championship sidecar racing action ended. This has truly been a season to remember for the wrong reasons. The COVID-19 pandemic has impacted around the world and decimated sport in general. We are thrilled to be once again able to get outfits on track fighting for the championship albeit in a truncated season.
There have been many changes over the winter months in terms of team line-ups. At the time of going to press, no fewer than ten drivers have a change of passenger. This alone will add spice to what is bound to be an exciting season, and the most high-profile of those is former champion Steve Kershaw who takes on board former double championship winning passenger Ryan Charlwood.
We are delighted to have the ongoing support of Avon Tyres our approved tyre supplier for the revised 2020 season. The relationship with Avon is well established, and they are a vital component in sidecar racing worldwide.
The opening round at Cadwell Park is the first time we will see our friendly Avon colleagues and at every round thereafter.
We are, however, anxious to make all teams aware that for the Knockhill date (September 19/20) the large Avon truck will not be heading North. They will service our needs from a smaller vehicle carrying a representative supply but will not have unlimited stock on board.
Teams are therefore advised to consider their potential needs and maybe make use of the large Avon stock at the preceding round at Snetterton BSB.
Not long to wait now boys and girls, Cadwell Park approaches.
Despite the ravages of the COVID-19 crisis, the British Championship season WILL get underway at Cadwell Park over the weekend of 8/9th August.
This is not the Revival as we know it, but nonetheless there will be two sessions for classic and older outfits. This is still very much a sidecar festival, although with a different feel.
Nothing is normal right now, but we are all determined that life will be as close to normal as we can possibly make it.
Further to our bulletin of last week, we are now delighted to announce the following schedule by which we can have a meaningful four or five round 2020 championship.
We’ve mentioned before….as things stand today for us nothing has particularly changed – the next key date is July 4th when ACU race permits may become available to Clubs, in line with current government plans. For things to get back to some normality the government would need to release the restriction on overnight camping. That’s a key component in Clubs being able to arrange events over more than 1 day.
Statement regarding COVID-19 and
the Molson Group British Sidecar Championship
Following
unprecedented measures announced by the Government this week in
efforts to combat the Coronavirus pandemic, and the subsequent action
taken by MSVR announced yesterday, the ban on UK track racing is
confirmed until at least May 31st.
That
means the opening two rounds of our championship due to take place at
Oulton Park (May 1-3rd) and Donington Park (May 22-24th)
will now be postponed, hopefully to reschedule at a later date.
RKB-F1
Motorsport is working closely with MSVR and all involved parties to
ensure we keep you advised at the earliest opportunity of
developments as they unfold.
Clearly
this situation is a constantly changing picture, and is under daily
review.
Rest
assured it is our intention to get both our British and World series
underway as soon as is humanly possible.
Meanwhile,
we continue to wish all our teams and supporters the very best of
health at this difficult time, and urge you all to follow the
guidelines passed to every one of us.
Whilst
we are all in this suspended state, with not very much happening on
the surface, it does not mean the feet are not paddling away below.
We at RKB-F1 Motorsport
are hard at it planning what hopefully will turn out to be the season
we all want.
Given
we now have 2 Championships running in parallel – The UK and World,
we are looking to expand the team on the ground on race weekends,
particularly in the area of PR, Social Media and TV.
Ideally
we see the person filling this part-time role as a graduate, or a
young person wishing to gain experience in the world of marketing and
PR with a view to progressing in the field of sport journalism,
television or similar.
We
currently have TV footage edited and produced for our own website and
YouTube channel, whilst the World Championship has a bespoke
highlights package produced by the FIM. We are also considering
taking interviews and video snapshots at both series, to edit into
those shows.
This
is an opportunity for a keen graduate or young person to be exposed
to the world of motor sport media, and to learn from our already
experienced personnel some of the tricks of the trade. More than
anything initially, it needs to be considered as work experience,
with a view to moving ahead as things develop.
If
you feel this is something you would like to become involved in, and
are interested in exploring this further, please make contact in the
first instance with karen@bgsp.co.uk
by sending a current CV along with a covering letter.
There can be no denying that what the world is going through with the Coronavirus pandemic right now, is something none of us has ever lived through before. We have all heard our parents and grandparents waxing lyrical about the hardships that “The War” brought to their daily lives. Indeed Uncle Albert from Only Fools and Horses coined the phrase “durin’ the war” to the constant annoyance of Rodney and Del Boy.
The unprecedented changes and restrictions being imposed on us are hard to take, but we all understand the reasons why. We have hitherto lived our lives in our own bubble of protected and precious existence whatever form that might take, and for those of us in this great circle of sidecar racing, it is a special bubble. We have seen the unimaginable happen in the sporting world with Premier League and International football matches cancelled or postponed indefinitely. The mighty Formula One, MotoGP, the Isle of Man TT and World Superbike, along with all other major sporting events where large crowds gather, have all been put on the back burner until goodness knows when. The British Superbike Championship, with whom we run our series, will make those decisions on our behalf, and theirs is not an easy task. Stuart Higgs and his team have tough calls to make over the next few weeks, and we can only watch and wait.
I am, and always have been, a purveyor of joy and hope – ever the optimist, and I would like to say to you right now that if you sit tight for a couple of weeks, it will be business as usual. But the bottom line is that we simply do not know when this will end, so we must stay ready, remain positive and aim for the golden moment when the wheels turn again in anger.
We’re all dressed up, raring to go, and the party has yet to start – but it will. We have championships to fight for, both British and World, and we have the third running of the absolutely brilliant Cadwell Sidecar Revival to look forward to. The anticipation will only get stronger, and when we return to action – what fantastic action it will be.
Stay strong everyone, stay positive and keep out of trouble, but above all, follow the common sense Government guidelines, and we will all be together on the grid once restrictions are lifted. Meanwhile, keep polishing and dreaming.
The RKB-F1 team wishes you all the very best through this difficult time.
It has been a long, wet winter, but the wait is almost over.
Before the teams assemble at the Oulton Park Circuit in Cheshire for the opening round, most of them will have spent an exhausting off-season building new machinery, and many will also have taken the annual pilgrimage to Val de Vienne for pre-season testing.
The registered number of teams for the series at the time of going to press, sits at twenty-five, with virtually all of those indicating a full season.
Add to those numbers any late entries, and the inevitable wild-cards from overseas, and it is a very promising line-up for British Championship honours.
Whilst reigning World Champions Tim Reeves and Mark Wilkes once again are placing sole focus on the FIM World Championship, now also promoted by RKB-F1, the former World Champions and multiple TT winners Ben and Tom Birchall have announced their intention to stay here in the UK to concentrate on their LCR chassis business, the Isle of Man TT, and the Molson Group series.
This is good news for British fans, and will give the Mansfield based brothers a real chance to lift the title with consistent UK appearances. Apart from 600cc Cup success in 2016, the British premier sidecar championship has hitherto not been high on their list or priorities.
The increased profile of sidecar racing in the UK, and the wide exposure given by the live Eurosport TV coverage, has resulted in a far greater sense of achievement and reward for those crews who aspire to be champions.
There is however, an ever-increasing number of crews lining up to claim the prize.
Among them, the Santander Salt sponsored outfits of reigning champions Todd Ellis and Charlie Richardson, and 2018 champion Steve Kershaw, who is breaking in a new passenger in the shape of the very enthusiastic and capable Jason Pitt.
Both these teams will be combining the domestic challenge with a full onslaught for FIM World honours.
The same is true of the Silicone Barnes Racing outfits of John Holden/Jake Lowther and Lewis Blackstock/Paddy Rosney. The distinctive blue and white livery of these crews was omni-present at the sharp end of the British Championship last season, so expect nothing less in 2020.
A second consecutive season following a year out with injury is very much on the cards for Chris Walker and Ashley Hawes. The TAG Racing Yamaha duo were really in the groove at the end of last year, and Chris is hungry for victory. The former Superbike and solo star has yet to climb to the top step of the podium, but the signs are all there that 2020 could be the year that happens. Walker and Hawes will also be targeting selected World rounds, so the British presence on the FIM stage will be a strong one.
Former double champions Ricky Stevens and Ryan Charlwood have ended any speculation about their future together, by once again lining up in Kawasaki colours as part of the Massingberd Mundy official Green Team. They are keen to reclaim the titles they won on the 1000cc bike, being strong advocates of the successful move to 600cc power. Expect also to see them doubling up with World Championship rides where they see fit. Team-mate is once again Ben Holland, who this year is joined by Jed Pilmoor-Brady. A former regular at the front, Ben has lost none of his speed, and shows a real passion to get back in the winning groove.
Young talent comes in the form of Tommy Philp, now partnered with Tom Bryant. Sponsored by Roberts Construction and Tops Autos, the Yamaha pair showed their worth as newcomers towards the end of last season, and will almost definitely be among the front runners from the word go this year.
Rob Biggs and Jeroen Schmitz are another young pairing with huge potential, and are now well accustomed to each other and the Taurus Tools outfit, although they are now favouring Yamaha power over the tried and trusted Honda CBR 600.
There is now strength in depth all down the field with a strong blend of experience and youthful talent. Thirty crews on most grids will indeed be a spectacle, and as the final plans are put in place for the new season, it is truly a mouth-watering prospect lying ahead of us.
We will be previewing the opening round at Oulton Park shortly, and updating you with any last-minute changes and rider additions.
Meanwhile, work goes on behind the scenes to fine-tune and tweak what will undeniably be a stellar year for sidecar racing both here and on the world stage.
The season opener at the picturesque Oulton Park circuit has traditionally offered just one race for the sidecar fraternity, mainly due to the constrained time allowed on track.
Church regulations dictate reduced noise on Sunday, so it has always been hard to fit two sidecar races into the busy schedule.
However, the sidecars continue to build their reputation with the BSB organisers and we have been able to negotiate two races, thereby giving the many track-side sidecar enthusiasts two bites of the cherry.
The two races will take place on Saturday however, with practice and qualifying on Friday.
Given that Eurosport TV now give full attention to the entire weekend, it is therefore highly likely that both races will attract TV coverage.
This is a new departure, great news for the teams and the Championship, and is one more example of the close relationship between MSV and RKB-F1 Motorsport.
All teams are reminded that registration needs to be by the end of February, and there are still many crews yet to sign up for 2020.
They will need to contact Mike Dommett mikedommett@hotmail.com as a matter of urgency if they wish to be on the grid at Oulton Park.
The annual awards presentation dinner and dance takes place on Saturday 25th January at the Best Western Bentley Hotel, South Hykeham, Lincoln, LN6 9NH.
Tickets are selling fast, but a number of high profile teams still have to submit their table requirements. This is by way of a gentle reminder to make sure you are there on what will be a great evening, to see our successful crews presented with their trophies.
Even before the 2019 awards have been distributed, the calendar for the brand-new season has been finalised. Run on exactly the same lines as previous years, in a prime position in the British Superbike paddock, the series takes on an even bigger significance next year.
