After a six-month winter break, BSB is back. The British Superbike Championship enters its 31st season stacked full of talent and with plenty of stories to be told. There will be a total of 26 permanent riders lining up on the grid. Here’s a rundown of who they are, what they’ll be riding and what we can expect from them in 2026.
Kyle Ryde
The reigning champ, Kyle stays with the Nitrous Competitions team but switches from Yamaha to the new Ducati Panigale V4R. That’s a big change that will put a small question mark over his title defence, but a top rider in a top team, on a top bike, will always be a tough combination to beat. Testing has been limited, but he’s been right on the pace in the one outing he’s had, topping the timesheets at the recent Oulton Park test.
Last year: British Superbike Champion for Nitrous Competitions Yamaha.
Look out for:Kyle’s super smooth style was at one with the Yamaha upon which he won his two titles. His success this year will depend on how he and his team adapt to the new Ducati Panigale V4R, but he’s a class act on a much-anticipated machine and going for three titles in a row – something that hasn’t been achieved since Niall Mackenzie in 1998.
Bradley Ray
Like his good friend Kyle Ryde, Bradley Ray represents a new generation of twenty-something BSB riders who bring with them a Grand Prix inspired riding style. The 2022 champ remains with the Raceways Yamaha team, now rebranded as McAMS Yamaha for sponsorship purposes, and should hit the ground running again this year.
Last year: Ray and the Raceways Yamaha looked almost unstoppable in the early part of the year but a few mid-season crashes seemed to blunt his form and he had to settle for second when the flag flew for the last time at Brands Hatch.
Look out for: Brad’s another title favourite and rightly so. Expect him to try and clear off up front, but with so much depth of talent this year we’re looking forward to seeing how he deals with the inevitable fairing bashing.
Leon Haslam
A real veteran these days, the son of Grand Prix legend Ron Haslam first competed in BSB two decades ago and remains a force today – as third in the 2025 championship confirmed.
So often the nearly man, he won the title in 2018 and still has the skill, grit and motivation to add to that, although lack of pre-season testing could hurt him in the opening rounds this year.
Last year: Won at the opening round at Oulton Park and remained consistent throughout the year to finish third in the standings.
Look out for: Leon might be in his 40s but write him off at your peril. With a new Ducati under him he should once again be good for some race wins.
Scott Redding
Once hailed as Britain’s great Grand Prix hope, 15-year-old Redding’s 125cc Grand Prix win in 2008 made him the youngest ever GP race winner in the history of the sport.
In 2013, only a late season injury denied him taking the Moto2 world title, although he struggled to make a big impact in the MotoGP class – where he was hampered by his bigger frame and carrying more weight than the flyweights around him. He made his BSB debut in 2019 and promptly won in his rookie year.
A five year spell in WorldSBK followed, bringing some highs and lows, but he made a dramatic mid-season return to BSB last year and remains with the Hager Ducati squad for 2026.
Last year: Switched to BSB mid-season after a tough time in WorldSBK. Made an almost immediate impact and was the strongest rider by the season’s end – finishing fourth overall despite missing more than a quarter of the campaign.
Look out for: Redding’s not only the pre-season favourite, he’s pure box office. Expect plenty of wins on the track and even more of his unique brand of chaotic fun off it. Scotty’s a fan favourite and always great value for money.
Danny Kent
Another Brit who grew up on the world stage, Danny excelled in the Moto3 class and became the country’s first GP champion since Barry Sheene, when he won the title in 2015.
That would prove to be the Wiltshire rider’s career highlight and after struggling to make an impact in Moto2 he’s been rebuilding his career in the British championship for the past five years. The adaptation has been difficult at times, but he’s a class act and wins have started to emerge.
Last year: Sixth in BSB on a Yamaha. Won last round.
Look out for: Danny’s a class act and with five full BSB seasons behind him he knows the tracks and the unique skills required to win on them. Going into his third year on a Yamaha, he’s got to be among the favourites.
Rory Skinner
Highly rated Scot was the first ever British Talent Cup champion, in 2018, and was impressive in his domination of the 2020 British Supersport Championship.
Moved to BSB class with Kawasaki in 2021 before an ill-fated foray into Moto2, which saw him return to BSB after a solitary season. A specialist at his local Knockhill circuit (he’s won there the last two seasons) he and his TAS Racing/Cheshire Mouldings squad switch to Yamaha and are running their third different bike in as many years – having run BMW and Ducati previously.
Last year: Seventh in BSB on a Ducati. Won at Knockhill and lay third going into the Showdown, only to miss penultimate round at Oulton Park due to a crash.
Look out for: Switches to Yamaha for 2026, with the R1 expected to flatter his high corner speed style. Needs to stay injury free, something he’s struggled to do in recent years, and to win away from his beloved Knockhill – where he’s won for the past two seasons. An outside bet for the title, but certainly not a crazy one.
Christian Iddon
A former supermoto champion, Christian Iddon’s an experienced superbike rider and proven race winner. He joins the new Sencat Yamaha squad after a good year with the FS-3 Kawasaki team. A popular character, he remains as hard working and motivated as anyone on the grid. If the package is right, he should be a front runner.
Last year: Eighth place on a Kawasaki, with a win in the wet at Assen.
Look out for: Now at the veteran stage of his career, popular Iddo’s a versatile contender who has ridden pretty much everything over the years. It’ll be interesting to see how he adapts to the Yamaha. If he can make it work, he’s a regular podium contender.
Max Cook
A champion in the support classes, the highly rated 23-year-old now has two seasons of BSB under his belt and could be about to have a breakthrough season. He largely matched his more experienced team-mate Iddon last year, confirming his undoubted talent, and he’s been impressive in testing too.
Last year: Ninth in BSB on Kawasaki. Best result of third at Thruxton.
Look out for: Remains with the FS-3 Racing squad who have supported him throughout his career. If, as pre-season testing suggests, the new Bimota is a step up from the aging Kawasaki he’s ridden so far, he should be right in the mix of things.
Storm Stacey
Last year: 10th overall on a BMW with 12 top six finishes.
Look out for: One of the most recognisable and popular figures in the paddock, the tall top hatted ‘Lord’ Stacey is a real fan favourite. Going into his seventh BSB season, despite only being 23, he’s now got a Ducati underneath him this year.
His will be a converted road bike, rather than a machine built directly by Ducati’s race division, and whether that will be a disadvantage remains to be seen. He’s certainly been strong in testing and will likely carry that forward into the opening round, at the Oulton Park circuit where he’s always been strong.
Josh Brookes
Last year: 11th in BSB, with a win at Oulton Park
Look out for: Reformed bad boy Brookes is a two-time champion. The veteran Australian may no longer be at the peak of his powers, but he remains competitive and, if the conditions are iffy, you can almost certainly rely on him to put a cat among the pigeons – as his win at Oulton Park proved last year.
Charlie Nesbitt
Last year: 12th in BSB. Best result fourth.
Look out for: Highly rated youngster is a multiple champ in the support classes, but yet to really make his mark in BSB. The signs are there though, and his signing is a major coup for the small TAG Racing Honda team.
Glenn Irwin
Last year: 13th in BSB
Look out for: Irwin’s one of the sport’s big characters and a man with a point to prove. One would expect him to be right in the mix now he’s fit and back on the Ducati. Glenn has been one of the star turns in BSB for a decade. Twice a runner-up (including missing out by half a point in 2023), his 2025 campaign was something of an outlier.
He was right in contention for the title after two rounds, only to suffer serious injury and then split with his PBM team. That’s likely to provide great motivation to the Ulsterman, who is among the best riders never to have won the title.
Andrew Irwin
Last year: 14th in BSB
Look out for: Glenn’s little brother has set up his own team for 2026, running last year’s Ducatis under the MET fonaCAB banner. He’s a former race winner who had a reputation for overriding the Honda in the past few years. Testing has been strong and he should be a podium visitor from time to time.
Fraser Rogers
Last year: 15th in BSB
Look out for: Highly rated as a youth, the now 30-year-old is finally an established BSB rider. A demon in the wet, we certainly won’t be surprised to see him feature if the conditions turn bad.
Lee Jackson
Last year: 16th in BSB
Look out for: Popular Lincolnshire rider remains with the DAO Honda squad and will be looking to make amends after a tough 2025.
Jason O’Halloran
Last year: World Endurance Champion
Look out for: The O’Show is a BSB stalwart and another for whom the title has proved elusive. He took a year away from the series in 2025, going off to win the World Endurance Championship as part of the YART Yamaha squad. Now he’s back in BSB with Honda Racing, with whom he raced for between 2015 and 2018. Everything points to him being able to win races if the bike is competitive enough.
Ryan Vickers
Last year: 20th in World Superbikes
Look out for: Back in BSB after a year in WorldSBK.
Back in BSB after a foray into WorldSBK last year. His promised two-year deal was ended early, despite some flashes of his undoubted ability, and he comes back ready to prove a point. Ryan’s speed is undoubted. He’s a BSB race winner and, with more maturity, he should be better placed than ever to add consistency. Like O’Halloran, much of his success will likely come down to the level of the bike. He should be winning races but is a title contender on the right package.
Rhys Irwin
Last year: British Supersport Champion
Look out for: Talented young Irish rider was impressive in winning the supersport title, but it’s a big step up to BSB. His Hawk Racing team is renowned for working with young riders and there will be little pressure on him to get big results in a learning year.
Ilya Mikhalchik
Last year: National Superstock Champion
Look out for: The Ukrainian was a runaway champion in Superstock last year, a feat made even more impressive by the fact it was his first year riding on British tracks. He’s been rewarded with a last minute deal to race a BMW for the IWR squad. He’s a versatile rider and although not likely to be a championship contender, he will certainly raise a few eyebrows.
Joe Talbot
Last year: Fifth in British Supersport Championship
Look out for: Rookie rider who impressed on his British Supersport debut last year, and who has looked impressive in pre-season testing. The new Bimota looks strong and there won’t be pressure on him. There are doubts surrounding his participation at the opening round after a heavy crash in testing but, all things being well, he’ll certainly pick up some good results as he chips away and learns what it takes to be a BSB rider.
Eugene McManus
Last year: Sixth in British Supersport Championship
Look out for: Another rookie rider at Hawk, McManus makes his BSB debut on the Mastermac Honda after a few years in supersport.
Peter Hickman
Last year: missed most of season through injury
Look out for: TT legend is also a BSB race winner but last year was tough as he missed most of the campaign with an injury picked up on the Isle of Man. He’s BMW’s star man and the TT will still be their main focus, but with 8TEN team-mate Davey Todd likely to miss much of the season through injury, he’ll be fronting up the squad on his own at Oulton Park.
Luke Hedger
Last year: 20th in BSB
Look out for: The former National Junior Superstock Champion was a frequent point scorer in 2025 and scored a career best 10th at the final round at Brands Hatch. That’ll be the target for him and the small Whitecliff CDH Racing team in 2026.
Richard Kerr
Last year: Best result of 15th in BSB
Look out for: Quiet Irish lad is a former Superstock 1000 champion. Debut BSB campaign last time out was challenging, but switch from BMW to Honda should help him as he looks to develop his craft.
Connor Thomson
Look out for: An experienced superstock runner, Connor undergoes his first full BSB season in 2026 onboard the NP Racing Honda. It’s about learning and progressing through the season for both rider and team, and if he can do that there will be plenty for him and the plucky team to celebrate.
