Whitham’s British Superbike silly-season-go-round

John McEnroe’s umpire-targeted accusation ‘you cannot be serious” can often be applied to the rumour-ridden silly season, which was in full swing in the Donington Bennetts British Superbike paddock.

And it is one James Whitham who poured petrol on the fire by his Eurosport predictions as to who would be riding what in 2023. So, BSN decided to copy the McEnroe banter and challenge Superbike racing’s number one pundit to distinguish between fact and fiction.

Setting aside Brad Ray, Taz Mackenzie and Rory Skinner are desperate to get into a world series, it is the swapping of seats within BSB that is the most intriguing.

And the tale that Tommy Bridewell is switching from Oxford Racing Ducati’s team to arch-rivals PBM, and their MCE Ducati outfit is at the very least an eyebrow raiser. Why would he do that?

Whitham responded: “Well, I don’t think he’ll be getting any more money than he’s been getting at Oxford Products. He has after all been their championship contender.

“I think one of the things is that PBM, however you look at it, have got more direct links with the factory whether they’ve developed the bike or not this year. Tommy might think, and I have no evidence for this, there is more a chance of getting on what would be more of a factory-based bike and, it is rumoured, that if any new parts came out, i.e., swingarms or whatever, he gets second dibs after the factory on their World Superbikes. I think he’s done quite a tight deal, but I think it will happen.”

BSN: And who is to replace him? We have just carried a story that one time Ducati MotoGP rider Danilo Petrucci, fresh from a successful spell in MotoAmerica, is a candidate.

Whit: Well, the other strong rumour is that he will be replaced at Oxford Products by