Quote:
With the announcement of the provisional entry list for the 2005 British Superbike season, a number of suprises crop up.
The entry list consists of 26 confirmed Superbike riders with only eight competitors for the Superbike Cup, resulting in a record number of entrants for the premier series.
Monstermob have still not confirmed their third rider, nor have Colin Appleyard decided on rider or machine, which will push the entry list up to 36 competitiors.
It would appear that Nvidia have signed Dennis Hobbs and will stay true to their policy of bringing on up-and-coming riders.
Dienza will be using Kawasaki machinery with a two rider line-up consisting of Steve Plater and Jon Kirkham.
Vitrans, with John Laverty, will be supported by World Superbike's Ten Kate team, which, if WSBK 2004 was anything to go by, should be a very fast machine.
There will only be two Ducatis in the whole series, piloted by James Haydon and Leon Haslam for the GSE team, with 12 Honda riders, nine Kawasaki riders, eight Yamaha iders and only four Suzuki riders.
Full provisional entry list
#1 John Reynolds (GB) Rizla Suzuki GSX R
#2 Michael Rutter (GB) HM Plant Honda CBR RR
#4 Steve Plater (GB) Dienza Performance Kawasaki ZX-10
#5 Sean Emmett (GB) Virgin Mobile Yamaha YZF R1
#6 Gary Mason (GB) Monstermob-Stobart Honda CBR RR
#8 Tommy Hill (GB) Virgin Mobile Yamaha YZF R1
#9 Karl Harris (GB) Honda Racing CBR RR
#10 Jon Kirkham (GB) Dienza Performance Kawasaki ZX-10
#11 Ben Wilson (GB) Vivaldi Racing Kawasaki ZX-10
#12 Dean Thomas (AUS) Hawk Kawasaki ZX-10
#14 John Laverty (IRL) Vitrans Ten Kate Honda CBR RR
#15 Dean Ellison (GB) Jentin Racing Yamaha YZF R1
#16 Gareth Glynn (GB) Jentin Racing Yamaha YZF R1 C
#17 Tristan Palmer (GB) Vivaldi Racing Kawasaki ZX-10
#19 Nick Medd (GB) ARCO Medd Racing Kawasaki ZX-10
#21 Malcolm Ashley (GB) MAR Kawasaki ZX-10 C
#23 Ryuichi Kionari (J) HM Plant Honda CBR RR
#24 Richard Wren (GB) Virgin Mobile Yamaha YZF R1
#25 Dennis Hobbs (GB) Nvidia GR Motorsport Yamaha YZF R1
#26 Chris Martin (GB) Carmasters Racing Suzuki GSX R C
#33 Michael Laverty (IRL) Monstermob-Stobart Honda CBR RR
#36 James Haydon (GB) GSE Racing Ducati 999 F-04
#37 Danny Beaumont (GB) JJL Racing Honda CBR RR C
#43 Howie Mainwaring (GB) Bill Smith Racing Yamaha YZF R1 C
#44 John McGuiness (GB) AIM Racing Yamaha YZF R1
#50 Steve Brogan (GB) PR Branson Honda CBR RR C
#56 James Buckingham (GB) Quay Racing Suzuki GSX R C
#65 Jonathan Rea (IRL) Red Bull Honda CBR RR
#74 Kieran Clarke (GB) SMR Honda CBR RR
#75 Glen Richards (AUS) Hawk Kawasaki Kawasaki ZX-10
#77 Marty Nutt (IRL) Nuttravel.com Racing Honda CBR RR C
#86 Julien Da Costa (F) MSS Discovery Racing Kawasaki ZX-10
#88 Scott Smart (GB) Rizla Suzuki GSX R
#91 Leon Haslam (GB) GSE Racing Ducati 999 F-04
TBA Monstermob-Stobart Honda CBR RR
TBA Colin Appleyard Racing TBA
[C - Denotes Cup competitor]
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Looks like a fantastic entry list IMO, will be a very interesting fight next year between Rizla, GSE, HM, Monstermob, Hawk and Virgin Mobile Yamaha.
Personally I cant see much changing, I still see Rizla taking both titles in 2005, they are after all probably the best funded team on the grid.