British Superbike boss Stuart Higgs reckons the 2009 season is pressing on full steam ahead and there are no plans to limit teams to one bike per rider, even though that is the situation for a few of the big teams. Higgs said that the rules for this year had been set but if there were to be representations from team managers, the matter would be open for discussion.

It looks like Crescent Suzuki will be keeping hold of their number one and only rider Sylvain Guintoli. The French former MotoGP rider had been liked with a switch to Stiggy Honda but he seemed to have been usurped by John Hopkins and his money. Team manager Jack Valentine is insistent his team will be on the grid come April, but with a lack of sponsorship, I'm a bit doubtful.

The mystery of where the Airwaves Ducati 1098 racebikes have gone continues to run. So far they have gone to Alistair Kennedy but then didn't as he took his NW200 money and gave it to Rob Mac. Then they went to Nick Medd's dad, Stuart, so he could run a Superbike team for his son. This rumour, apparently, made Colin Wright cough his morning Actimel all over the radio. The bikes, have, apparently, not moved.

Speaking of The Burly Humbersider, McElnea has imposed a strict training regime on his new riders, subjecting them to marathon mountain bike sessions. This, apprently, pleased youngster Graeme Gowland and Chris Walker (38) but Michael Rutter wasn't so keen.

McElnea's bikes will switch to K-Tech suspension for the coming season. The company deals in both Showa (which Rutter likes) and Ohlins (which everyone else likes). But the company now has some units of its own which the team will be evaluating.

It has emerged that new Superstock rider Scott Smart has grown up and is now engaged to his incredibly attractive girlfriend, who is far too pretty, funny and intelligent for the Jimi Somerville tribute act she appears to want to get hitched to. Congratulations to them both.

Simon Andrews continues his pre-season training by throwing himself off the side of various mountains in the Alps with bits of wood tied to his feet. There have been reports filtering through of mystery women appearing and disappearing from Andrews' company but they were quickly dashed when it emerged it was Breakers and his 'alternative' winter collection.

Andrews' team-mate Julien Da Costa has revealed he is looking forward to riding in the UK and that his family will be joining him at some of the British Superbike rounds. The Frenchman reckons the team plans to start its Spanish testing programme in March.

Professional Northerner Michael Howarth is still confident of an entry into the Superstock class in 2009. The Vernon-Kay-alike is putting together a deal and hopes to be able to announce it soon. Driver.

Leon Camier managed to muscle his way into Ducati Corse's massive Wrooom event at Trentino in the Italian Alps. Camier went as a guest of big mate and Ducati MotoGP rider Casey Stoner and said it was quite good.

HM Plant man Josh Brookes has been jet skiing in his native Australia while we have been snowed in. Stop. Showing. Off.

One rider, who shall not be named in an attempt to protect the guilty, has apparently decided to only go out with girls called Amy so he doesn't ever get their name wrong.

I entirely forgot to congratulate James Ellison and Sarah Ellison, nee Thompson, on their marriage in Las Vegas a little while ago. I also forgot to do the same for James' brother Dean, who also recently upgraded from Girlfriend v. 7.0 to Wife v. 1.0.

There is once again a suspicious lack of girls in the BSB support class entry lists. Jenny Tinmouth will be back in British Supersport (will someone please give her a proper motorbike and some money) and Cat Green is also confirmed in 125GP. We're hoping that Nicole McAleer will be back and that MRO Superteen Champion Stephanie Waddelow will also have enough money to make the jump to lightspeed.

Paul Young's title-winning Supersport team are planning to be back on track in 2009 but are finding the hunt for sponsorship quite challenging. The squad, which is masterminded by spanner-twirler extraordinaire John Trigger, lost their Embassy Racing backing at the Silverstone round in 2008 but still have the full backing of Triumph.

Former British Superbike telly commentator Keith Huewen, who has been banished to the world of fried chicken, cousin-marrying and trailer parks that is NASCAR, has launched a new blog. It is, at the moment, populated by stock car racing but the former 500GP racer intends to sneak some proper racing in there soon.