2022’s Honda British Talent Cup first round is just around the corner, with Silverstone’s classic British venue playing host.

Preseason is over and it’s time for the BTC to get suited and booted for racing! Silverstone hosts round one as the class of 2022 saddle up alongside the Bennetts British Superbike Championship, with both enjoying their season openers this weekend.

The familiar trio of Carter Brown, Johnny Garness and Evan Belford were quick in testing and arrive with a point to prove after missing out on the crown last year. The first two have switched teams, to MLav VisionTrack Academy, while Belford remains at City Lifting by RS Racing but all are primed for another assault on the top.

Brown was runner up in 2021 by just six points with his momentum growing throughout 2021, whereas Belford’s went the opposite way after a strong start and then a tougher latter half of the season. Garness, meanwhile, was just lacking some better consistency – so they’ll all want to start with some big points hauls. Last year at Silverstone National, Brown won race two but it was a fairly dramatic first encounter, with Ollie Walker (SP125) coming out on top. Will it be another scene stealer this weekend?

The likes of Bailey Stuart-Campbell (151s Racing), Harrison Crosby (Banks Racing) and Ryan Hitchcock (City Lifting by RS Racing) have also shown front-running form already and will want a step forward in 2022, and there are plenty of riders who’ve now gained enough experience to expect to join that fight for the top ten, top six or more.

There are also a good few rookies looking to prove their pace in the field, and it’s a deep field. There are 35 riders on the entry list this season, with all allowed to take part in free practice and qualifying sessions, but the Motorcycle Circuit Racing Control Board (MCRCB) has imposed a limit of 32 riders who can take part in each BTC race. That means it’ll be crucial to put together a good weekend overall ahead of the two 22-lap races.