Now in its second year, the Ducati 848 Challenge has become one of the most exciting and fiercely competitive race series on the UK calendar, with a spectacle that has thrilled crowds at BSB rounds and at its overseas appearances at Assen and Monza.

This closely contested championship has proven popular with both spectators and TV audiences and has seen the number of riders joining the series rise steadily over the year

In 2012, the Ducati 848 Challenge will closely follow the current format with eight rounds, sixteen races and including two overseas rounds that have proven to be such an enticing experience for many of the current riders.

The 2012 series will be fully supported and operated by Ducati UK and again offer a generous race package that will include the series registration within the price of a new 848 Evo Superbike.

The Ducati 848 Evo, regarded as one of the best handling production bikes on road and track, will remain in its current specification through into 2012 and continue to offer a level playing field for both 2011 and 2012 model year bikes.

Stuart Higgs, Series Director of BSB commented on the announcement, ‘The 2011 Rapid Solicitors Ducati 848 Challenge has been a great addition to the BSB portfolio of Championships. Aside from the great racing this year, Ducati UK has also created a race series that's great value for the competitors with a strong media platform and high attendances at BSB events.  The 848 Ducati is an exceptional sports bike and we are delighted that the series will continue into 2012.  

Further details about entries, regulations and the format of next year’s Ducati 848 Challenge will be announced before the end of the season.

For information regarding rider entries or sponsorship enquiries please email: 848challenge@ducatiuk.com

At Brands Hatch over the weekend, racing on both the Indy and GP circuits at meant that Round 5 of the Rapid Solicitors Ducati 848 Challenge was very much a tale of two halves.

  A full schedule on the opening day of the round saw Mike Edwards (MSKWorks.com) top the qualifying table to claim his first pole position of the season with a storming 48.86 second lap. Edwards was joined on the front row by Kenny Gilbertson (AOR/Boast Plumbing), a resurgent Darren Fry  (Buildbase/JHP  Racing), and Robbie Brown (DMC  Racing). 

From pole it was Edwards who led the bikes down Paddock Hill and through Druids, and he would lead the race until Gilbertson made a move on lap three. By now the leading pack of Edwards, Gilbertson, Brown, Morris and Fry had opened up a 1.5 second gap over Cheetham as the rest of the field started to spread out. Edwards retook the lead on lap six as he and Gilbertson started to pull away from the chasing pack.

Further down the field Hopkins and Poole had got themselves into a  four way battle with Cheetham and Aaron Brown (Ladybirds  Ducati), soon to be joined by Steve  Jordan (Team  Global Robots) and Ricky Holden (Holden  Racing). At two thirds distance, Gilbertson again took the lead and would hold off Edwards, despite a last lap lunge at Surtees, to take the chequered flag. Edwards crossed the line for second, and Morris pipped Brown by 0.5 seconds for third place.

Race 2 took place next on the 2.4 mile GP circuit and with the fastest lap time from Race 1, Brown took pole position with Edwards, Morris, and Fry completing the front row. Having got the best of the starts, Morris held a 1.5 second lead over Brown at the end of the second lap. The race was to lose paddock favourite Cheetham on lap three with a massive highside on the way out of Sheene Curve, but otherwise the race was to remain largely incident free. Making great progress on his Ducati this season, Hopkins rode his way through four places to get himself into sixth, and having had a dreadful start, Poole made his way through from the very back of the field to eleventh. Morris eventually took the race win in commanding style with a gap of 3.5 seconds over the chasing Edwards and Brown. 

Commenting after the race, Morris said “We had a quiet Race 1, more about getting the Championship points really, but in Race 2 I knew I could go well on the bigger circuit so just went for it on the opening laps with new tyres on. It was great that it paid off.”  

 Morris now takes an extended 50 point lead into Round 6 at Cadwell Park BSB on 25/26/27 August, and with only three rounds remaining must be confident of his Championship chances. 

On-board lap of Brands with Mike Edwards