TAG Racing Honda drops Dan Linfoot, Japanese racer joins Buildbase Suzuki

The penultimate round of the 2021 British Superbike Championship (BSB) at Donington Park will see a revised grid following a series of seat changes since the most recent event at Oulton Park.

While there is no change among the eight riders heading into the second of three Title Showdown rounds, the most notable news occurs over at TAG Racing Honda after confirming it will skip the final BSB events after parting ways with Dan Linfoot.

Having swapped from Kawasaki machinery to become the satellite arm of Honda Racing, TAG Racing has endured a tough season with its single bike entry, with Linfoot proving a regular points-scorer but only cracking the top ten on two occasions.

As such, the two parties have agreed to part ways before the end of the season, with TAG Racing turning its attentions to its Superstock effort instead.

“It’s a tough pill to swallow to end the season in this way, but it was clear to both me and the team that we were finding it tough,” said Linfoot. “I’m disappointed but I respect their decision and they respect mine, something I can’t fault them for.

"I’ve loved my time with TAG Racing, even when things were tough in 2020 they stuck by me, continued to support me even when I wasn’t riding for them and I will always have respect for Rob, Tracy and Gary for that, there aren’t many people that would do that for a rider, but we both feel it’s now time to move on.

From Japan to Spain to WorldSBK to BSB

Elsewhere, the revolving door at Buildbase Suzuki continues to spin with Japanese racer Naomichi Uramoto the fourth different rider - after Tim Neave, Luke Stapleford and Michael Dunlop - to fill the seat vacated by the still-injured Danny Kent.

Uramoto is competing with the manufacturer in the Spanish Superbike Championship but recently made his WorldSBK debut at Navarra, becoming the first Suzuki rider to start a race since 2018.

Other changes on the grid for Donington Park will see Joe Francis return to the grid on the FHO Racing BMW. 

Francis began the 2021 BSB season with the PR Racing Lloyds & Jones BMW squad before exiting prior to Round 8 at Silverstone. However, he will be back on the BMW again this weekend, replacing the injured Xavi Fores at FHO Racing alongside Peter Hickman.