The British Superbike Championship, the world’s premier domestic motorcycle racing championship, has been taken over by MotorSport Vision with immediate effect.

MotorSport Vision has signed a ten year agreement with the Motorcycle Circuit Racing Control Board (MCRCB) to be responsible for the organisation and promotion of BSB. MSV has taken over the commercial rights from Dorna UK, a division of the Spanish-based MotoGP World Championship rights holders. The series will now be run by MSVR, MotorSport Vision’s racing division, from its Brands Hatch base.

Jonathan Palmer, Chief Executive of MotorSport Vision, said: "The British Superbike Championship is Britain’s most popular motor sport attracting big crowds at the circuits and large audiences on television. On purchasing MotorSport Vision’s circuits in 2004, as soon as I saw my first BSB race I was completely hooked - the racing is incredibly close and full of drama. The top riders really are heroes."

This year’s BSB title will be decided over twelve double race rounds, half of which will be contested on circuits owned by the MotorSport Vision group - Brands Hatch, Oulton Park, Cadwell Park and Snetterton.

Stuart Higgs, Series Director of the British Superbike Championship, will continue in his position: "Jonathan Palmer and MotorSport Vision have already contributed greatly since the start of their involvement in 2004 in both the development and the direction of the championship," said Stuart, commenting on the move. "This migration into the position of rights holder combines their high standards of operation, presentation and forward thinking together with the strengths and the potential that the entire British Superbike Championship platform clearly has. I am tremendously excited about the new structure and the opportunities that lie ahead."

Since its re-launch in 1996, the British Superbike Championship has revitalised motorcycle racing in the UK and has played a key role in the career paths of international and British riders including Troy Bayliss, Neil Hodgson and reigning World Superbike Champion James Toseland. It continues to attract leading motorcycle manufacturers such as Ducati, Honda, Kawasaki, Suzuki and Yamaha in factory supported teams.