Before we bid a final farewell to the year that was 2023 and begin gazing ahead to the year that will be 2024, BSN  looks back at the 2023 British Superbike Championship to bring you our rundown of the Top 10 BSB Riders of the Year. 

Next up is Ryan Vickers in fifth place…

Ryan Vickers came of age in BSB this season with a breakthrough 2023 campaign befitting of the opportunity presented to him by OMG Racing .

Indeed, OMG Racing’s decision to pick Vickers as its replacement for 2022 BSB title-winning, WorldSBK-bound talisman Bradley Ray certainly raised the odd eyebrow, particularly in the wake of a lacklustre 2022 campaign on the FHO Racing BMW M 1000 RR.

A season that undid a lot of the hard work he'd put in during three promising - if somewhat erratic - years on the Lee Hardy Racing Kawasaki, it therefore made OMG’s offer for 2023 - while a no-brainer - one laden with ‘now or never’ pressure.

Moreover, an injury sustained in a crash during pre-season testing that left Vickers on both the sidelines and the back foot at the start of the year, didn't get things off to a great start either.

However, a confidence-boosting maiden podium (at his 101st attempt) on his return to action at Donington Park during Round 3 helped settle things down and thereafter Vickers could be found towards the sharp end of the field more regularly.

Breaking his BSB victory duck in the wet at Brands Hatch during Round 6, while only half-points were awarded for his efforts in the shortened race on that occasion, a second win - again in the wet, but this time full-length, max points - at Donington Park consolidated his status as arguably the rider who made the biggest step in BSB this season.

With some challenging objectives for 2023 fulfilled, Vickers heads into the 2024 BSB season - again with OMG Yamaha - as something of an exciting dark horse…

6 - Lee Jackson

7 - Jason O’Halloran

8 - Charlie Nesbitt

9 - Josh Brookes

10 - Danny Kent