I’ve heard repeatedly the claim that the AMA Superbike series the best in the world. However, recent news about the British Superbike series (BSB) should prove that otherwise.

First and foremost, there is simply the size of each series. The AMA Superbike series currently has 9 events scheduled for 2005, seven of which are double header events, for a total of 16 races. The British Superbike series, on the other hand, will run 13 events and all of their events have two legs totaling 26 races.

The quality of the tracks could also be argued as a factor since three of the English tracks are truely world class (Silverstone, Brands Hatch and Donington Park) while only one of the US tracks currently hosts an international motorcycle race (Laguna Seca). New tracks in the US like Barber Motor Sports Park could help swing this difference but dropping a track like Virginia International Raceway from the 2005 AMA calender while keeping a track like PPIR isn’t helping the cause…

Both series have roughly the same number of registered riders (based on the assignment of race numbers) but many of the American riders are reserving a race number just to compete in a single race, either the Daytona 200 or the event on the AMA calendar that races at the same track as their regional race series. As a result, the number of racers at a single event in the US fills out the grid with more riders than the British but the British series has roughly the same number of riders when comparing how many race at every event.

But the largest difference for 2005 will be the depth and variety of their respective fields. The 2005 British Superbike Series has the best line-up they have ever had with at least 14 factory riders representing all five major manufacturers: Honda, Suzuki, Yamaha, Kawasaki and Ducati. The AMA series has only 11 factory or semi-factory riders on four brands (Honda, Suzuki, Kawasaki and Ducati). The British teams also run a wider variety of tire brands (Dunlop, Michelin and Pirelli) where the US series is dominated almost completely by one (Dunlop with some second tier teams running Pirelli).

And the final nail in the coffin is the talent level of the riders. While no one can argue that some top US riders like Mladin, Duhamel and Bostrom could be world class riders there is really only two with with recent experience in a world class series: Kurtis Roberts and Neil Hodgson. The British series this year has become a home away from home for many ex-GP riders including Leon Haslam, James Haydon, James Ellison, Shane Byrne and perhaps Jeremy McWilliams as well. The list is even longer if you consider events like the Isle of Man and the Macau road circuit races as world class races, since BSB riders always dominate both events. Finally, the Japanese factories are even sending their star riders like Kagayama and Kiyonari to the BSB as a stepping stone before going to World Superbike or MotoGP.

The AMA Superbike series is a great series but it for 2005 I believe the British have the bragging rights for the strongest series in the world. I hope the AMA will soon regain the clarity in their own program required to raise the bar and hopefully return to the brilliance of being the national superbike series which leads the world.

[image from British Superbike Championship web site]