Our BSB contingent heads into 2026 with fresh machinery and unfinished business
The 2025 BSB season is just around the corner and pre-season testing in Spain and Donington are now complete, with just the Oulton Park testing (21-22 April) before the opening round at that venue over 2-4 May.
The series as a whole courted controversy early this year after announcing long-time title sponsor Bennetts Bike Insurance were being replaced with Zyn, a brand of nicotine patch.
The big changes in the superbike field this season are the switch for Nitrous Competition’s Racing from Yamaha to Ducati machinery. Reigning champ Kyle Ryde will return along with Glenn Irwin, with the latter recently stating he will miss the Donington test but return for Oulton Park.
Irwin, who was runner up in 2023 and third in 2024 with PBM Hager Ducati, made the switch to Nitrous Competitions on a Yamaha following a big crash at Snetterton in June last year. Both Irwin and Ryde have been testing in Spain riding the Ducati V4 S and are said to be on the pace for the season opener.
Runner-up from last season, Bradley Ray, will continue with Raceways Yamaha after taking the title fight down to the wire in 2025. Ray said he ‘spun a lot of laps’ at the Andalucia test in Spain and left feeling ‘happy and content’.
PBM Hager Ducati and Moto Rapido Ducati will again field one-rider teams in 2026, with Scott Redding and Leon Haslam on board respectively.
THE AUSSIES
The big news for Aussie fans is that reigning World Endurance champion Jason O’Halloran will return to the championship that made him a household name in the UK to race with the factory-backed HRC Honda team.
“Obviously BSB bikes aren’t new to me, but after my time away in the World Endurance Championship, it feels like a novelty to be able to be so specific in the setup I’m looking for,” O’Halloran said. “I’m really enjoying being able to make this bike suit exactly what I’m looking for and I feel immediately comfortable being around my new crew.”
Josh Brookes saddles up for his second season on the DAO Racing Fireblade, looking to improve on his 2025 season where he finished 11th in the points – with a highlight being a race win at Oulton Park during the showdown rounds. As outlined in this issue’s Grid Talk (pg104), Brookes said the team focussed on engine and chassis development during their four-day Spanish test program: “We’ve ended this series of tests making some good changes and found some good feeling with the bike, it’s given us a real clear direction of where it could go to improve.
“We now have enough knowledge of where we need to be; we need to focus on the fact that we have made some steps, we’ve put the bike in a different range where it feels better than what I have been riding on most of 2025.”
Brookes is partnered with Lee Jackson again this season and will also take on the Isle of Man TT and Northwest 200 races.
Mahaffy joins supersport
Perhaps the most significant news in the off-season was the announcement that 2025 ASBK Supersport champion Jack Mahaffy would be teaming up with Astro JJR Hippo Suzuki.
Mahaffy, whose future looked uncertain after the ASBK season, looks set to be on a competitive machine and has already tested the bike in Spain. “A huge thanks to Stuart (Tromans) and the whole team for backing me on this next chapter. It’s time to cross the pond and show what I am made of,” Mahaffy said.
Team owner Tromans was equally enthusiastic, saying it was about finding the right balance of experience, drive and determination when choosing a rider.
“Again as a team we looked to the Southern Hemisphere for our lead rider. Jack has the skills and the right attitude to do very well in the BSB paddock, this and our experience in getting the best out of the Aussie and Kiwi riders means we are looking forward to a great season.”
Mahaffy will also be joined on the grid by BSB Supersport veteran and former champion, Ben Currie.
This season Currie has made the switch from the Moto Rapido Ducati V2 to a Raceways Yamaha-prepared Yamaha R9 alongside Harry Truelove.
Despite a crash in Spain while testing, Currie is feeling very positive about the switch. “We’ve just wrapped up a really productive test on the race-spec McAMS Yamaha R9 – and what a feeling! I’m pleased with the progress the team and I made across the two days, and confident that we’re heading in the right direction as the season draws closer. There are always areas to work on, but that’s exactly what testing is for.”
With the bikes prepped, the paddocks buzzing and the Aussies ready to fire, all that’s left is to hit the lights.
