Talk:Hawk Racing/Temp

History

The team began entering in the highest British National Class in 1999, utilizing a Kawasaki ZX7RR with Phil Giles competing in the British Superbike Series. The team secured a second-place position in the Privateer’s Cup for that season.

In 2000, the team continued to race the Kawasaki ZX7RR but brought in Gordon Blackley as their new rider for the British Superbike Series. They also made their debut at the prestigious Isle of Man TT, where Blackley secured 9th place in the 2000 Senior TT riding a Kawasaki ZX9 TT Formula I Bike.

In 2001, Hawk Racing expanded from a single-rider setup to a two-rider team, bringing Mark Burr on board to join Gordon Blackley. This season, the team focused exclusively on the British Superbike Series, sticking with the ZX7RR.

The 2002 race season commenced with a significant milestone for Hawk Racing, as they became a manufacturers team, representing Kawasaki in the British Superbike Series. There was a minor shift in the rider lineup, with Mark Burr being joined by Australian Glen Richards. Richards achieved a 7th place finish in the championship.

In 2003, following a strong conclusion to the previous season, the team expanded to include three riders for their Superbike lineup. Joining Glen Richards on the Kawasaki ZX7RR were Scott Smart and Englishmen Lee Jackson from the renowned Jackson Racing UK family. The team achieved notable results in the championship, with Richards finishing in 4th place, Smart in 10th, and Jackson in 14th. It is worth noting that Jackson completed all races except for Donington Park, where an exhaust valve failure prevented him from finishing.

In 2004, the team took on the challenge of racing with the newly developed Kawasaki ZX10-R. Inspite the lack of technical support from the factory workshop as it was having also difficulties in MotoGP, the revised bike was among the ones offering the best packages in the championship. The team choose to field two riders, Scott Smart and Glen Richards were retained from the previous season. Glen Richards had a 6th at Oulton Park early in the season and a couple of 7th's and other lower placings but, he sustained an injury in form of broken arm at Thruxton and was replaced by John McGuinness, who achieved his first podium finish in the Circuit Series at Brands Hatch. McGuinness also competed with Hawk Racing at the 2004 Ulster Grand Prix, securing a second-place finish in a close finish. Scott Smart finished 4th in the British Superbike Series, clinching four victories throughout the season and marking the first-ever ZX10-R model win on the globe. Additionally, the team made its debut in the National Superstock Cup, entering with the young Peter Hickman, who went on to win the Trophy.

In 2005, the team exclusively participated in the British Superbike Championship, with Glen Richards returning healthy and new Australian rider Dean Thomas. They achieved 5th and 6th place finishes, respectively. During this season, Dean Thomas managed to complete every single race, showcasing a consistent performance all year.

The year 2006 was eventful for the team, marked by the introduction of the new model ZX10, which proved to be performing worse than the previous year. The team also welcomed two Australian riders this times, Dean Thomas was joined by fellow Aussie Craig Coxhell. The Series presented challenges for the Leicester-based outfit as Coxhell suffered a broken collarbone while contending for a podium place in rain soaked Donington Park and finished the season in 13th. Meanwhile, Thomas finished 12th in the championship standings. Peter Hickman made a return to the team in 2006 and had his debut Superbike ride on the year-old 2005 spec ZX10. The team experienced greater success in road racing during this year. They emerged victorious in Scarborough’s Cock o' the North event at Oliver's Mount, with [[Ian Hutchinson (motorcycle racer)|Ian Hutchinson riding the new model 2006 ZX10. Additionally, Carl Rennie represented the team at the 2006 Isle of Man TT and secured a commendable 6th place finish.

In 2007, the team made the decision to scale back their participation by not taking part in any road races and focusing solely on the British main series with the ZX10. Scott Smart rejoined the team, while Peter Hickman continued from the previous year. The 2007 season presented various challenges and setbacks, leading to Peter Hickman's departure from the team midway through the season. The team then brought in James Haydon, who achieved the distinction of being the top Kawasaki finisher in his first race for the team.

Moving on to the 2008 season, the team introduced the new Kawasaki ZX10, but encountered difficulties with Sponsorships as Scott Smart became their sole contender in the British Superbike series. Initially it was arranged for James Haydon to continue into the season, but two weeks into the contract the major sponsor dropped out, forcing him out. Additionally, the team took a chance by participating in the 2008 British Superstock 600 Championship, where they introduced Luke Stapleford, who finished 8th in his inaugural Season.

In the 2009 season, the team experienced a comeback year when title sponsor Buildbase joined forces for a stable partnership, leading to the team being known as Buildbase, which was brought over from new acquired rider John Laverty, rather than solely Hawk Racing as it has been known since the decade prior. This time, the team continued their participation in the main national series on the Kawasaki, with John Laverty and Tristan Palmer as the riders for the Superbikes, supported again by Luke Stapleford in the British Superstock 600 and James Hillier in the British Superstock 1000 class. Furthermore, the team made a return to road racing with James Hillier participating in the 2009 Isle of Man TT, achieving a flawless 100% finishing record and securing a solid 9th place in the Senior TT.

Moving on to 2010, they paired John Laverty with Adam Jenkinson for the British Superbike schedule. Barry Burrell and returnee Lee Jackson took on the challenge of competing in the British National Superstock 1000. Additionally, Burrell had the opportunity to showcase his talent by wildcarding in the European Superstock 1000 Championship in the round at Silverstone, where he demonstrated his potential by contending for a podium finish and ultimately securing a finish in 7th position.

In 2011, Hawk Racing gathered manufacturer support as BMW Motorrad's Official entry as British Superbike Team and ran the Superstock outfit as Buildbase BMW, riding the BMW S1000RR in the 2011 British Superbike Championship which for this year's schedule two Superbike classes were ran as the EVO class was introduced. Barry Burrell moved up from the Superstock class to join the new Superbike EVO class, while John Laverty and Ian Lowry participated in the Superbike class. Laverty experienced a significant crash at Oulton Park, which led to him being sidelined for the remainder of the season. Richard Cooper stepped in and competed in the National Superstock 1000 Championship, ultimately leading to victory and securing the championship in BMW's debut season.

Throughout the 2012 season, the team continued to have successful races while racing the BMW S1000RR Stocks, with all-English lineup of Steve Brogan and Howie Mainwairing-Smart competing successfully in the British National Superstock 1000 Championship and achieving several podium finishes. Newly aquired Dan Linfoot joined Barry Burrell to ride the Superbikes in the British Top Class, with Peter Hickman rejoining the team partway through the season to replace Linfoot, who had the chance to compete in the Moto2 World Championship.

In the 2013 season, the team welcomed two new riders to the Superbikes, and at Donington, English teammates Jon Kirkham and James Westmoreland fiercely competed against the clock, resulting in BMW securing their first pole position in the BSB. Despite the intense battle, James Westmoreland, also known as 'Westy,' ultimately clinched the position on result countback when the points were tied equally. This season also marked the debut of 17-year-old Lee Jackson (nephew to the other Lee Jackson who raced for the team in 2003 and 2010 seasons), in the National Superstock 1000 championship, where he finished strong in 4th place.

The following year, 2014, proved to be the most successful to date for Hawk Racing, as they rode the BMW S1000RR to remarkable success in the British Superbike Championship and returned to road-racing. James Westmoreland and former Honda Factory-Rider Ryuichi Kiyonari were the formidable Superbike riders for the team, with former triple Champion Kiyonari securing a remarkable seven British Superbike race victories and leading the Championship until a crash in Friday morning practice at the last round, ultimately resulting in a second place finish in the standings. Lee Jackson continued to develop in the National Superstock 1000 Championship, achieving his first ever Superstock 1000 win at Thruxton. The team also excelled in road-racing with Michael Dunlop riding the Hawk Racing BMW S1000RR sporting the BMW Factory Livery, claiming victory and a second position at the 2014 North West 200, and achieving the pinnacle of success by winning the 2014 Isle of Man TT in both the Superbike TT and the Senior TT, setting race records in both events admidst the 75th Anniversary Celebration of BMW's first victory in the 1939 Isle of Man TT.

Moving on to 2015, Lee Jackson transitioned into Superbikes alongside established veteran rider Ryuichi Kiyonari, experiencing a successful debut year with several top ten results. During the Oulton race, Kiyonari's crash opened the door for Richard Cooper to join the Superbike lineup late in the calendar at the team's decision. Surprisingly, Michael Dunlop made a stunning return to the team mid-way through practice week during the 2015 Isle of Man TT (after beeing dissatisfied with his original entry on the PBM Kawasaki), securing at the time, the second fastest lap of the Snaefell Mountain Course of 132.515 mph averaged on the BMW machine during practice.

In 2016, the team made a significant move to its new home at Mallory Park Circuit in Leicestershire. The line-up for the British Superbike series remained consistent with Richard Cooper and Lee Jackson forming the Buildbase BMW Motorrad team, and Cooper achieving a victory at Oulton Park. Taylor Mackenzie led a title challenge in the British National Superstock 1000, winning six out of the eleven races. The road campaign in 2016 was also a success, with Michael Dunlop winning the 2016 Isle of Man TT Superbike TT and Senior TT races, setting the fastest lap record, and securing a victory at the 2016 North West 200 Superbike race as well as at the Southern 100 Superbike events.

In 2017, Hawk Racing made the manufacturer switch to Suzuki and competed in the British Superbike Championship as the Official Suzuki team with the all new Suzuki GSX-R 1000R. The team took on the challenge of running two Superbike teams: the established Buildbase Suzuki and Title-Sponsored Bennetts Suzuki, with Sylvain Guintoli and Taylor MacKenzie forming the lineup. Guintoli achieved a well-earned win at Assen, while Richard Cooper narrowly missed winning the National Superstock 1000 championship by 10 points, and Bradley Ray gained a podium at Oulton Park, showcasing his potential. The road campaign in 2017 had its challenges, with Michael Dunlop retiring from the 2017 Isle of Man TT Superbike TT race, but the team rebounded with making their renowned suspension tweaks to make the bike reliable for him to win the Senior TT.

The 2018 season started off strong for the team as Buildbase Suzuki, with Bradley Ray securing a double win at Donington Park and getting to the showdown in the British Superbike Championship. Cooper also achieved a victory in the final race of the schedule, marking the team's success in the first and last races of the series calendar. Billy McConnell's performance in the British Superstock 1000 Championship was notable, narrowly missing winning the Title by a few points after crashing out in the final race. The team did not have a roads campaign in 2018.

In 2019, Buildbase Suzuki experienced a successful year, with Richard Cooper clinching the title in the British National Superstock 1000 Championship of the BSB. The Superbike squad welcomed again Luke Stapleford alongside Bradley Ray, who was determined to pursue the Superbike Championship Title. Additionally, the team made a return to the 2019 Isle of Man TT, introducing Jay Lawrence, a promising newcomer from New Zealand, who ended his debut as the fastest newcomer that year.

The year 2020 brought unprecedented challenges as the global impact of COVID-19 led to the cancellation of all road-races. Despite this, the British Superbike Organization managed to held a condensed season, albeit with limited attendance from the crowd. The Official Suzuki Superbike lineup featured Kyle Ryde and Keith Farmer, while the Buildbase paintjob in the National Superstock 1000 Championship was represented by Tim Neave and Leon Jeacock, with occasional appearances by Michael Dunlop. Unfortunately, an early shoulder injury sidelined Keith Farmer for most of the season, prompting Gino Rea to step in and adapt admirably, achieving a notable 4th place finish at Donington Park. The third round on the schedule at Silverstone marked a significant milestone in the team's history, as Kyle Ryde achieved a double win and narrowly missed out on a third victory for a event sweep, while Tim Neave secured his first British National Superstock 1000 race win.

In 2021, Gino Rea stayed with the team for the British Superbike Championship, accompanied by former Moto3 World Champion Danny Kent, while Tim Neave continued his pursuit of victory in the British Superstock 1000 Championship. Rea achieved two impressive wins at Donington Park, marking his first-ever victories in British Top Class of motorcycle racing. Meanwhile, Kent secured his BSB podium debut at Thruxton before sustaining a severe injury in form of a dislocated and broken hip at Donington Park, needed immediate operation which ruled him out for the rest of the season. To fill the void left by Kent's absence, the team enlisted road-racing veteran Michael Dunlop, Japanese Naomichi Uramoto, and Leon Jeacock as replacements for the remainder of the British Superbike season. Luke Stapleford made a noteworthy guest appearance at Thruxton, delivering two 2nd place finishes in the British National Superstock 1000 races aswell as setting a new lap record on occasion. Due to the impacts of COVID-19 throughout the year, it was the absence of road races once more.

With the return to regular schedule of full-season racing and the lifting of COVID restrictions in 2022, the team embarked on an ambitious schedule for the British Superbike series and real roads effort. Danny Kent made a comeback from his extended injury, gradually regaining full fitness over the season, while Christian Iddon joined the squad with high expectations following multiple wins in the prior 2021 season. Despite a promising start, Iddon's chances were dashed by a crash on the warmup lap at Knockhill. Throughout the season, he persevered through highs and lows, ultimately lacking the luck he deserved for his efforts. The team demonstrated their confidence in young riders by signing Charlie Nessbitt for the British National Superstock 1000 Championship. Nesbitt's quick pace throughout the season culminated in a victory at Cadwell Park. Towards the end of the season, Nesbitt was rewarded with a place on the Top Class Superbike for the final rounds, where he displayed great promise for the future, including an 8th place finish. For the North West 200 events, Richard Cooper made a return to the Mallory-based team, achieving a pair of 2nd place podium finishes in the Superbike class. Meanwhile, Michael Dunlop's last-minute decision to switch teams led to a challenging return to the North West 200 due to tyre issues, but he secured a respectable 3rd place in the RST Superbike TT race at the 2022 Isle of Man TT, with a last lap speed average of 133.086 mph.

The 2023 season revealed that Charlie Nesbitt and Josh Owens would be campaigning the Superbikes in the Top Class. This season marked a change in name as Buildbase ended the sponsor partnership after after 14 seasons, and manufacturer as the team transitioned to Honda after beeing with Suzuki since 2017, signaling the beginning of a new chapter with the support of MasterMac Surfacing and Crendon as the two team-name sponsors. Throughout the year, the team experienced a series of highs and lows, ultimately achieving the honor of finishing as the top Honda team in the British Superbike Championship. Noteworthy, Nesbitt secured three podium finishes at Thruxton, showcasing the team's competitive performance on new machinery. The road racing campaign was equally thrilling, highlighted by the return of Michael Dunlop with the team. Dunlop's participation in prestigious events such as the North West 200 and the 2023 Isle of Man TT resulted in impressive victories, including a first-place finish in the Superbike TT race and a third-place finish in the Senior TT. Dunlop's success extended to the Cookstown 100, where he competed, as well as securing a first-place finish at the Armoy "Race of Legends", further solidifying the team's achievements in the road-racing circuit.

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