The recently announced Next Generation regulations that will bring Balance of Performance to BSB are already guaranteed to create a huge amount of anticipation and excitement in 2027.

Whilst some have seen it as a knee-jerk reaction to Ducati’s dominance in World SBK this season, in reality they have been something that Stuart Higgs, Scott Smart and others have been planning for several years.

No one knows exactly how the competitive landscape will be changed and that makes the usual silly season – for both riders and teams changing manufacturers – all the more intriguing.

Confirmed news

We know that Bradley Ray will continue as the sole Superbike rider in the Raceways Yamaha team. A couple of months ago it felt like Ray would want to try to get on a Ducati, with the R1 just lacking a little bit for him to really take the fight to Ryde and Redding. It seems like the new regulations have made staying with what he knows to be the best bet.

Similarly whilst Ryan Vickers may have been thinking of changing manufacturers a few months ago, the great strides he has made meant that continuing with the factory Honda team was the logical move.

FS-3 Bimota team are carrying on with Max Cook and Joe Talbott in a move that makes total sense for all involved. The potential of the Bimota in BSB-spec (at least for now) is there for all to see.

TAG Racing announced that they are moving away from Honda and will be running Ducatis instead. No news on riders as yet.

On to the juicy bits ..!

The TNT Sports BSB team were reporting plenty of rumours over rider changes during the Donington Park round and a few more have surfaced in the past week since then. These are the main storylines, all of which should be taken as gossip until confirmed or proved to be wrong!

Kyle Ryde heading to Honda?

Surprising as the rumour sounds, it quite quickly went from gossip to seen as being all-but-official at Donington.

Why would Ryde move? Well, this seems to be the result of reported financial pressures being faced by Nitrous Competitions Racing. Just a week ago Nitrous Competitions ADM Racing posted an official statement on their Instagram account clarifying how the “financial circumstances” impacted (or more specifically don’t impact) on their car racing programme:

OFFICIAL STATEMENT – NITROUS COMPETITIONS ADM RACING

Following recent communications regarding Nitrous Competitions Racing and its British Superbike programme, we would like to provide some clarity regarding the relationship between the two teams.

Nitrous Competitions Racing (BSB) and Nitrous Competitions ADM Racing (GB3 & GB4) are two separate racing operations.

Dave Williams is the Team Principal of Nitrous Competitions Racing and is also a co-owner of the ADM Racing operation. However, despite his involvement with both, the teams operate independently, with separate budgets, financial commitments and racing programmes.

The financial circumstances recently referred to in relation to the BSB team are specific to Nitrous Competitions Racing and have no financial impact on the ADM Racing operation.

The team is not experiencing financial difficulties. Its GB3 and GB4 programmes, Young Drivers Academy, financial position and future plans remain completely unaffected by the circumstances surrounding the BSB operation.

It was announced that Ryde had signed a multi-year contract with the team prior to 2026; however it appears that the team (which is really Paul Curran Racing, as it was in the OMG days) are, at best, downsizing and that Kyle has taken the opportunity to secure a seat alongside his good friend Ryan Vickers at Honda.

No word yet on where that leaves Glenn Irwin, although he might welcome a change of scenery after a luck-less 2026 season. He does have a tight-knit crew, which upped-sticks from PBM with him in his mid-season swap last season – so perhaps they would stay as a one-rider team, or maybe he’ll join forces with brother Andrew in their own team?

More Honda moves (or non-moves)?

The past two seasons have meant that Honda’s status as the customer bike to be on has taken a hit. TAG Racing have already announced their move to Ducati and it looked like DAO Racing would be switching too.

Interestingly, DAO appear to be having second thoughts given the pace that Vickers has shown on the bike and the new regulations coming into play. Staying at least one more year with Honda and seeing how the new regulations change things might be the sensible decision.

All signs are that current riders Lee Jackson and Josh Brookes are not being retained, with Ilya Mikalchik being one of the main names linked with DAO as a replacement.

No firm news yet as to whether Mastermac Hawk will be staying with Honda. They knew that 2026 would be a learning year when they decided to promote Rhys Irwin and Eugene McManus from the Supersport class. I expected a bit more from them than what we’ve seen and perhaps that may lay at the door of the bike.

There is talk that the new regulations could see Suzuki make a return to BSB and that would be a natural fit with Hawk Racing as the former factory-backed team; however, that’s pure speculation on my part, so consider them to be staying with Honda for now.

Milwaukee BMW

One big development that has all-but been confirmed is that a new BMW Team will be on the grid in 2027 with two top riders.

Rumours had been spreading that Tarran Mackenzie would be returning to BSB and joining up with fellow Scot Rory Skinner on BMWs.

Speedweek confirmed that news a couple of days ago, filling in the blanks as to the identity of the new team:

The 30-year-old has signed for the new BMW team run by Dale McElveen – Managing Director of tool manufacturer Milwaukee for the United Kingdom and Ireland – and his partner Leigh Finley, who will also take on the role of Technical Director. The team has been granted number 1 status by BMW, with Rory Skinner as the second rider.

McElveen and Finley currently run their SCARS Racing team in British Supersport, and are on the verge of winning that title this weekend with Luke Stapleford, so they will be making the step up to BSB.

Peter Hickman confirmed in a recent The Outside Line podcast that his 8Ten Racing team with Davey Todd would not be returning to BSB after they left the paddock mid-season.

Given the new regulations, and BMW being the only manufacturer bringing a significant upgrade to their bike in 2027, it will be interesting to see if anyone else decides to link up with the German brand. TAS/MLav Racing reportedly may be moving away from Yamaha and could be a good match for BMW given TAS’s former relationship with the brand.

Oli Bayliss BSB-bound?

Speedweek have also published a news report confirming the much-rumoured decision of Oli Bayliss joining the BSB paddock after impressing so much in British Supersport this season. They state that he will be riding a Ducati, but that the team is currently unknown.

Bayliss was originally rumoured to have been the rider lined up by the Superbike Advocates team for a BSB campaign in 2026 before changing his mind. Tommy Bridewell took the seat instead and the team ultimately moved straight to World Superbike. Whilst it could be seen as a missed opportunity for Bayliss, gaining experience of British circuits on a Supersport bike should set him up perfectly for 2027.

There has been talk of PBM potentially going back to being a two-bike team, if the budget can be found, and that would seem like a good fit for Bayliss if it became possible.

And a few others …

Leon Haslam confirmed at Donington that it’s looking good for him to have another season with Moto Rapido Ducati.

The TNT Sports commentators were speculating that Storm Stacey and Bathams may part company at the end of the season. The team has just confirmed that Charlie Nesbitt will get a run-out on the bike at Brands, so that may foreshadow a potential change.

Binch Pro Racing, currently running Ducatis in Supersport, reportedly are making the step up to BSB as a Team Green Kawasaki-backed effort.