In October 2024, Hawk Racing announced that MasterMac Surfacing would be sponsoring the team for the third consecutive year on the British Superbike circuit. [7]
The team began in the highest 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 Senior TT riding a Kawasaki ZX9.
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 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 Lee Jackson. 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, 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. Despite a lack of technical support from the manufacturer, the bike offered one of the best packages in the championship. The team choose to field two riders, Scott Smart and Glen Richards, for the British Superbike series. Unfortunately, Richards sustained an injury at Thruxton and was replaced by John McGuinness, who achieved his first podium finish at Brands Hatch. McGuinness also competed with Hawk Racing at the Ulster Grand Prix, securing a second-place finish in a thrilling photo finish. Meanwhile, Scott Smart finished 4th in the superbike series, clinching four victories throughout the season and marking the first-ever ZX10-R win in the world. Additionally, the team made its debut in the National Superstock cup series, entering with the young and enthusiastic Peter Hickman, who went on to win the championship.
In 2005, the team exclusively participated in the British Superbike series, with Glen Richards returning from injury and new Australian rider Dean Thomas. They achieved 5th and 6th place finishes, respectively. During this season, Dean Thomas managed to complete every single superbike race, showcasing a consistent performance.
The year 2006 was eventful for the team, marked by the introduction of the new model ZX10, which gained the nickname 'the dreaded wheelbarrow'. The team also welcomed two Australian riders, Dean Thomas and Craig Coxhell. The British Superbike series presented challenges as Coxhell suffered a broken collarbone while contending for a podium place. 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 2005 specification 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 riding the new model ZX10. Additionally, Carl Rennie represented the team at the 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 Superbike 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 debut 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 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, leading to the team being known as Buildbase rather than Hawk Racing. During this time, the team continued their participation in the British Superbike series on the Kawasaki, with John Laverty and Tristan Palmer as the riders for the Superbikes, supported by Luke Stapleford in the Superstock 600 class and James Hillier in the 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 solid 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 superbike season. Meanwhile, Barry Burrell and Lee Jackson took on the challenge of competing in the National Superstock 1000cc series. Additionally, Burrell had the opportunity to showcase his talent by wildcarding in the European Superstock 1000 Championship at Silverstone, where he demonstrated his potential by contending for a podium finish and ultimately securing a decent 7th position.
In 2011, Hawk Racing secured the title as BMW Motorrads Official British Superbike and Superstock team as Buildbase BMW, riding the BMW S1000RR in the series which for this year ran two Superbike classes 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 the team 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 stock BMW S1000RR, with Steve Brogan and Howie Mainwairing-Smart competing in the National Superstock 1000 Championship and achieving several podium finishes. Meanwhile, Dan Linfoot and Barry Burrell rode the superbikes for the series, with Peter Hickman rejoining the team partway through the season to replace Linfoot, who had the opportunity to compete in the Moto2 World Championship.
In the 2013 season, the team welcomed two new riders to the superbikes, and at Donington Park, teammates Jon Kirkham and James Westmoreland fiercely competed against the clock, resulting in BMW securing their first pole position. Despite the intense battle, James Westmoreland, also known as 'Westy,' ultimately clinched the position on result countback when the points were equal. This season also marked the debut of 17-year-old Lee Jackson in the National Superstock 1000 championship, where he finished strong in 4th place.
The following year, 2014, proved to be the most successful season to date for Hawk Racing, as they rode the BMW S1000RR to remarkable success in the British Superbike series and returned to road racing. James Westmoreland and Ryuichi Kiyonari were the formidable superbike riders for the team, with former Champion Kiyonari securing an outstanding 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 championship. 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, claiming victory and a second position at the North West 200, and achieving the pinnacle of success by winning the 2014 Isle of Man TT Superbike Race and the Senior TT, setting race records in both events.
Moving on to 2015, Lee Jackson transitioned into Superbikes alongside established 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 race calendar. Surprisingly, Michael Dunlop made a stunning return to the team mid-way through practice week during the 2015 Isle of Man TT, securing at the time, the second fastest lap of the mountain circuit of 132.515mph on BMW machinery during practice week.
In 2016, the team made a significant move to its new home at Mallory Park Circuit. 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 National Superstock 1000 class, 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 and Senior TT races, setting the fastest lap record, and securing a victory at the North West 200 Superbike race as well as at the Southern 100 Superbike events.
In 2017, Hawk Racing switched manufacturer to Suzuki and competed in the British Superbike series as the Official Suzuki team with the all new Suzuki GSX-R 1000R. The team took on the challenge of running two superbike teams: Buildbase Suzuki and Bennetts Suzuki, with Sylvain Guintoli and Taylor MacKenzie forming the lineup. Guintoli achieved a well-deserved 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 race, but the team bounced back 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 making the showdown in the British Superbike series. Cooper also achieved a victory in the final race of the season, 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 championship by a few points after crashing out in the last 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 lineup welcomed again Luke Stapleford alongside Bradley Ray, who was determined to pursue the Superbike Championship. 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 series managed to organize a condensed season, albeit with limited attendance from the crowd. The official superbike lineup featured Kyle Ryde and Keith Farmer, while the Buildbase livery in the National Superstock 1000 Championship was represented by Tim Neave and Leon Jeacock, with occasional appearances by Michael Dunlop. Unfortunately, an early 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 of the season 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 Superstock 1000 race win.
In 2021, Gino Rea stayed with the team for the British Superbike series, accompanied by former Moto3 World Champion Danny Kent, while Tim Neave continued his pursuit of victory in the National Superstock 1000 Championship. Rea achieved two impressive wins at Donington Park, marking his first-ever victories in British Superbike racing. Meanwhile, Kent secured his debut British Superbike podium at Thruxton before sustaining a severe injury at Donington Park, which ruled him out for the rest of the season. To fill the void left by Kent's absence, the team enlisted Michael Dunlop, Naomichi Uramoto, and Leon Jeacock as replacement riders for the remainder of the Superbike season. Luke Stapleford made a guest appearance at Thruxton, delivering two 2nd place finishes in the National Superstock 1000 races and setting a new lap record. The racing industry continued to grapple with the impacts of COVID-19 throughout the season, resulting in the absence of road races once again.
With the return 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 team 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 Nesbitt for the 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 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 Copper made a return to the 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 of 133.086mph.
The 2023 season revealed that Charlie Nesbitt and Josh Owens would be campaigning the Superbikes for the team in the Top Class. This season marked a change in manufacturer as the team transitioned to Honda, signaling the beginning of a new chapter with the support of MasterMac Surfacing and Crendon as the two title 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 to 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 race and a third-place finish in the Senior TT race. 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.
Following a Trend in the early 2000s the team had a Sports Video Game Title as Hawk Kawasaki Racing / Hawk Superbike Racing on the Playstation 2 with Peter Hickman on the signature green Kawasaki racing motorcycle on the cover.
England
John McPhee
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