2011 British Superbike Championship

The 2011 British Superbike season was the 24th British Superbike Championship season. No major rules were changed from the previous year with the showdown section of the season staying and the continuation of the evolution class below the main superbike class. The field had greater quality than the year before with champion Ryuichi Kiyonari returning to defend his title on the HM Plant Honda alongside the returning former British superbike champion Shane Byrne. This meant that Josh Brookes moved onto the lone Relentless by TAS Suzuki, with Michael Laverty and Tommy Hill moving to a new swan Yamaha team. Another major signing was that of former MotoGP rider John Hopkins, who joined the Samsung Crescent Suzuki squad alongside Jon Kirkham.

The championship was tightly contested between Byrne, Hopkins and Hill, each taking their share of race wins, but it was not until the final round at Brands Hatch that the title would be decided. The first race was edgy with Michael Laverty taking the victory, the second race of the weekend would however swing the title towards Tommy Hill, Hopkin's Samsung Suzuki cut out in the early laps forcing him to restart the bikes electronics and ride from the back of the field to 12th place. It was all down to the final race, whoever finished first between Hopkins and Hill would win the title. Hopkins made a good start and lead Hill for almost the entire race, however on the penultimate lap Hill would pass Hopkins, leaving it until the final corner of the final lap Hopkins went up the inside to retake second however he could not hold the line and Hill squeezed up the inside to beat Hopkins to the title by 6 thousandths of a second (0.006s) to become the 2011 British Superbike Champion.

Calendar 2011 Calendar Main Season Round Circuit Date Pole position Fastest lap Winning rider Winning team 1 R1 Brands Hatch Indy 25 April Shane Byrne Tommy Hill Shane Byrne HM Plant Honda R2 Michael Laverty Tommy Hill Swan Yamaha 2 R1 Oulton Park 2 May Tommy Hill Ryuichi Kiyonari Ryuichi Kiyonari HM Plant Honda R2 Jon Kirkham John Hopkins Samsung Crescent Racing 3 R1 Croft 15 May Shane Byrne Jon Kirkham Jon Kirkham Samsung Crescent Racing R2 Shane Byrne Shane Byrne HM Plant Honda 4 R1 Thruxton 30 May Alex Lowes Shane Byrne Michael Laverty Swan Yamaha R2 Shane Byrne Shane Byrne HM Plant Honda 5 R1 Knockhill 19 June Tommy Hill Tommy Hill Tommy Hill Swan Yamaha R2 Tommy Hill Tommy Hill Swan Yamaha 6 R1 Snetterton 300 3 July John Hopkins Ryuichi Kiyonari John Hopkins Samsung Crescent Racing R2 Shane Byrne Ryuichi Kiyonari HM Plant Honda 7 R1 Oulton Park 17 July John Hopkins Tommy Hill Tommy Hill Swan Yamaha R2 Race Cancelled 8 R1 Brands Hatch GP 6 August Tommy Hill Tommy Hill Josh Brookes Relentless Suzuki by TAS R2 7 August Tommy Hill Shane Byrne HM Plant Honda R3 John Hopkins Tommy Hill Swan Yamaha 9 R1 Cadwell Park 28 August Tommy Hill Michael Laverty Swan Yamaha R2 29 August Michael Laverty Michael Laverty Tommy Hill Swan Yamaha R3 Tommy Hill Tommy Hill Swan Yamaha The Showdown 10 R1 Donington Park 11 September Tommy Hill John Hopkins John Hopkins Samsung Crescent Racing R2 Michael Laverty John Hopkins Samsung Crescent Racing 11 R1 Silverstone Arena GP 25 September Michael Laverty Josh Brookes John Hopkins Samsung Crescent Racing R2 Josh Brookes Josh Brookes Relentless Suzuki by TAS 12 R1 Brands Hatch GP 8 October Josh Brookes Josh Brookes Michael Laverty Swan Yamaha R2 9 October Shane Byrne Shane Byrne HM Plant Honda R3 Josh Brookes Shane Byrne HM Plant Honda Notes: 1. – The second race at Oulton Park was cancelled due to bad weather conditions. As a result, the race was run at the next possible round of the championship at Cadwell Park, with the second race grid positions standing for the race.

Entry list 2011 Entry List Team Constructor Bike Riders Class Rounds HM Plant Honda Honda Honda CBR1000RR 1 Ryuichi Kiyonari All 67 Shane Byrne All Relentless Suzuki by TAS Suzuki Suzuki GSX-R1000 2 Josh Brookes All 11 Guy Martin 1 MSS Colchester Kawasaki Kawasaki Kawasaki ZX-10R 3 Stuart Easton 1–3 5 Ian Lowry 10–12 22 Alex Lowes 4–9 101 Gary Mason 1–9 S 10–12 Sorrymate.com SMT Honda Honda Honda CBR1000RR 4 Dan Linfoot 1–6 16 James Ellison 7–10, 12 Tyco Racing Team Honda Honda CBR1000RR 4 Dan Linfoot 11–12 24 Patric Muff E All 46 Tommy Bridewell 1–5 60 Peter Hickman All Buildbase BMW BMW BMW S1000RR 5 Ian Lowry 1–9 8 John Laverty 1–7 47 Richard Cooper 12 77 Barry Burrell E All 99 Lee Jackson 10–12 Rapid Solicitors-Bathams Ducati Ducati Ducati 1198 6 Michael Rutter 1–9, 11–12 40 Martin Jessopp All Swan Yamaha Yamaha Yamaha YZF-R1 7 Michael Laverty All 33 Tommy Hill All Pr1mo Racing Kawasaki Kawasaki ZX-10R 9 Chris Walker All Samsung Crescent Racing Suzuki Suzuki GSX-R1000 10 Jon Kirkham All 21 John Hopkins 1–8, 10–12 Splitlath Motorsport Aprilia Aprilia RSV4 1000 11 John Simpson E 9, 11–12 56 Hudson Kennaugh 1–4, 6 E 7–8 100 Jenny Tinmouth 1–3 Mark Miller E 5 6 Karl Harris 7–8 E 9–12 AIR Racing Kawasaki Kawasaki ZX-10R 12 Josh Day E 1, 3–7 Doodson Motorsport BMW BMW S1000RR 14 Glenn Allerton E 8 20 Tom Tunstall E 1–6 25 David Anthony E 10–12 PR Racing Kawasaki Kawasaki ZX-10R 17 Simon Andrews E 1–6 56 Hudson Kennaugh E 9–10 Kawasaki World Superbike Kawasaki Kawasaki ZX-10R 17 Joan Lascorz 8 23 Broc Parkes 8 Jentin Racing Honda Honda CBR1000RR 19 Steve Brogan 1–6, 9–12 66 Steve Mercer 12 Team WFR Honda Honda CBR1000RR 22 Alex Lowes E 1–3 27 James Westmoreland E 10 S 11–12 45 Glen Richards E All 81 Graeme Gowland E 1, 3–12 98 Jake Zemke E 5–8 Motorpoint Yamaha Yamaha Yamaha YZF-R1 22 Alex Lowes 10–12 27 James Westmoreland 1–8 46 Tommy Bridewell 9–12 65 Loris Baz 1–7 Hobbs Racing BMW BMW S1000RR 25 Dennis Hobbs E 1, 3, 5 Bournemouth Kawasaki Kawasaki Kawasaki ZX-10R 37 James Hillier E All Buy-force.com Quattro Plant Kawasaki Kawasaki ZX-10R 54 Steve Heneghan E 11–12 Marks Bloom Racing Kawasaki Kawasaki ZX-10R 55 Dan Kneen E 1–2, 4–8, 10–12 Spike Racing BMW BMW BMW S1000RR 64 Aaron Zanotti E All Close Print Finance Honda Honda Honda CBR1000RR 75 Craig Fitzpatrick E 1–6, 10–12 777RR Motorsport Suzuki Suzuki GSX-R1000 78 Matteo Mossa E 1–3, 5–9 Boss D&B BMW BMW S1000RR 79 Nick Medd 1, 3, 10 Moto Rapido Ducati Ducati Ducati 1198 88 Scott Smart E All Icon Class E Evolution Class S 2012-specification Key Regular Rider Wildcard Rider Replacement Rider

Championship standings

Riders' Championship Pos Rider Bike BRH OUL CRO THR KNO SNE OUL BRH CAD DON SIL BRH Pts R1 R2 R1 R2 R1 R2 R1 R2 R1 R2 R1 R2 R1 R2 R1 R2 R3 R1 R2 R3 R1 R2 R1 R2 R1 R2 R3 The Championship Showdown 1 Tommy Hill Yamaha 2 1 DNS DNS 14 6 24 4 1 1 2 DNS 1 C 19 2 1 2 1 1 3 2 3 2 4 4 2 647 2 John Hopkins Suzuki 17 5 2 1 2 3 4 3 2 Ret 1 3 Ret C 4 3 2 1 1 1 3 3 12 3 645 3 Shane Byrne Honda 1 3 4 3 Ret 1 3 1 3 2 3 4 4 C 16 1 3 3 3 4 4 8 5 5 6 1 1 625 4 Michael Laverty Yamaha Ret 4 5 5 24 Ret 1 7 6 3 4 5 6 C 8 4 4 1 2 3 2 14 2 4 1 NC 5 601 5 Josh Brookes Suzuki Ret DNS 6 Ret 8 4 9 6 5 13 7 2 2 C 1 6 Ret DSQ 4 2 6 5 4 1 2 Ret 6 598 6 Ryuichi Kiyonari Honda Ret 2 1 4 25 15 10 19 10 4 5 1 15 C 17 12 6 5 9 7 Ret 6 28 13 17 16 11 526 BSB Riders Cup 7 Jon Kirkham Suzuki 5 Ret 7 7 1 Ret Ret 9 8 11 6 Ret 9 C 9 8 10 4 6 6 5 3 27 6 8 2 Ret 210 8 Michael Rutter Ducati 6 7 11 6 Ret 8 2 Ret Ret 9 13 DNS 3 C 2 5 5 Ret Ret DNS 8 8 7 Ret 7 164 9 Peter Hickman Honda 13 9 13 8 7 9 5 2 13 8 10 DNS Ret C 25 10 9 8 5 5 7 Ret Ret 7 Ret 14 9 155 10 Gary Mason Kawasaki 18 10 9 10 3 7 Ret 14 4 6 11 11 5 C 3 Ret 7 6 10 12 17 17 14 14 Ret DNS DNS 139 11 Martin Jessopp Ducati 9 15 15 12 19 Ret 12 10 Ret 12 12 6 Ret C 23 9 Ret 7 7 8 9 4 9 Ret 10 Ret 13 110 12 Chris Walker Kawasaki 10 11 16 11 Ret 13 8 8 14 7 8 8 14 C 5 15 15 10 Ret DNS Ret 9 17 Ret 12 5 Ret 105 13 Graeme Gowland Honda Ret DNS WD WD 19 23 17 DNS 15 DNS 16 C 7 11 11 11 8 9 10 10 6 11 9 6 8 92 14 Loris Baz Yamaha 7 13 8 9 4 5 25 11 9 Ret 9 7 7 C 88 15 Yamaha Ret Ret 14 13 12 12 26 12 7 5 14 DNS 8 C 6 25 14 88 Honda 11 12 12 Ret 14 8 10 16 James Ellison Honda 11 C 24 Ret 13 13 11 10 8 7 5 3 4 79 17 Tommy Bridewell Honda 3 Ret WD WD 10 10 Ret 17 11 Ret 76 Yamaha Ret 11 14 11 10 9 11 7 12 18 Stuart Easton Kawasaki 4 6 3 2 6 2 69 19 Dan Linfoot Honda 8 8 10 15 17 Ret 6 5 Ret 15 18 12 15 10 NC 9 Ret 63 20 Alex Lowes Honda 12 12 12 14 5 11 60 Kawasaki 7 Ret Ret DNS 16 DNS 13 C 21 20 16 12 Ret Ret Yamaha 16 Ret 7 12 15 Ret DNS 21 Glen Richards Honda 11 14 Ret Ret 9 16 14 18 12 18 20 13 12 C 10 14 17 9 13 14 13 15 13 16 16 Ret DNS 54 22 Ian Lowry BMW Ret Ret 18 18 18 14 16 22 DNS DNS 19 9 Ret C 11 Ret Ret WD WD WD 27 Kawasaki 12 Ret 11 15 13 Ret Ret 23 Scott Smart Ducati 24 20 17 17 22 Ret Ret DNS 16 14 Ret DNS 10 C 26 18 20 14 12 13 Ret DNS 16 Ret Ret 13 15 21 24 Joan Lascorz Kawasaki Ret 7 8 17 25 Barry Burrell BMW 21 21 19 23 Ret 17 13 16 19 17 27 14 19 C 15 16 19 16 15 16 15 13 18 17 18 Ret 14 13 26 Patric Muff Honda 19 19 20 20 16 19 15 21 20 16 23 15 Ret C 12 17 NC 18 18 18 18 18 19 18 19 11 16 11 27 Karl Harris Aprilia Ret C Ret Ret Ret 15 14 15 Ret Ret 22 22 21 10 18 10 28 Jake Zemke Honda 21 20 21 10 17 C 14 19 18 8 29 Simon Andrews Kawasaki 15 17 Ret 19 21 18 27 20 15 10 17 DNS 8 30 Steve Brogan Honda 14 16 Ret 16 Ret DNS 11 15 Ret 19 Ret DNS 16 Ret Ret 16 20 19 DNS DNS DNS 8 31 Broc Parkes Kawasaki 18 13 12 7 32 John Laverty BMW Ret DNS WD WD 13 21 20 13 18 23 22 DNS DNS C 6 33 Aprilia Ret Ret 23 Ret 11 Ret 17 Ret Ret DNS 18 C Ret Ret DNS 5 Kawasaki 19 Ret 19 19 Ret 34 Dan Kneen Kawasaki WD WD WD WD 22 DNS DNS DNS Ret 21 20 C 13 23 Ret Ret Ret 23 21 Ret 17 Ret 3 35 James Hillier Kawasaki 20 18 21 21 23 20 28 27 Ret Ret Ret 17 23 C WD WD WD 17 17 17 20 20 Ret Ret Ret 15 17 1 36 Tom Tunstall BMW 25 23 24 22 15 23 Ret Ret 23 22 Ret DNS 1 37 Aaron Zanotti BMW 22 22 22 24 20 24 18 24 DNS DNS 24 16 22 C 20 22 22 20 Ret 20 23 22 24 24 22 18 19 0 38 Guy Martin Suzuki 16 Ret 0 39 Craig Fitzpatrick Honda 23 Ret DNS DNS Ret 22 23 25 22 21 DSQ 18 22 Ret Ret DNS 0 40 David Anthony BMW 24 19 21 20 Ret DNS DNS 0 41 Matteo Mossa Suzuki Ret Ret DNQ DNQ DNQ DNQ DNQ DNQ 21 C Ret 24 Ret 21 19 Ret 0 42 Josh Day Kawasaki WD WD Ret 25 21 26 24 Ret 25 19 Ret C 0 43 Steve Heneghan Kawasaki Ret Ret 23 19 Ret 0 44 Mark Miller Aprilia Ret 24 26 20 0 45 Steve Mercer Honda 20 Ret DNS 0 46 Glenn Allerton BMW 22 21 21 0 47 Lee Jackson BMW 21 21 26 23 0 48 John Simpson Aprilia DNS DNS 25 25 0 Jenny Tinmouth Aprilia WD WD DNQ DNQ Ret Ret 0 Dennis Hobbs BMW WD WD WD WD Ret Ret 0 Nick Medd BMW WD WD DNQ DNQ Ret DNS 0 Richard Cooper BMW DNS DNS DNS 0 Pos Rider Bike BRH OUL CRO THR KNO SNE OUL BRH CAD DON SIL BRH Pts

Evolution Championship