Tim Neave lands BSB debut as Danny Kent faces injury timeout

Tim Neave will make his British Superbike Championship (BSB) debut at Cadwell Park this weekend with Buildbase Suzuki after Danny Kent was ruled out through injury.

The youngster is currently competing with the team in the National Superstock 1000 Championship but will step up to BSB for the first time this weekend at the challenging Lancashire circuit.

He takes the Suzuki GSX-R1000R seat normally occupied by Kent after the 2015 Moto3 World Champion suffered a broken hip in an accident last time out at Donington Park. Kent came down in an innocuous crash, but was injured after being collected by his own bike.

“Obviously I wish Danny a speedy recovery. I’ve spoken to him and he’s been great, wished me luck and told me to go out and enjoy it, and that’s what I’m planning on doing,” Neave, who will partner Gino Rea, said. 

“I’m really excited, and I couldn’t be making my debut with a better team. I’ve never ridden a Superbike, I’ve never even ridden on slicks, and I’ve also never worked with a data guy, so I’m going to have so much to learn, but it’s still a motorbike with two wheels, the throttle goes both ways. 

“I’m not setting any targets, the only aim is to improve in every session, and if we can do that I’ll be happy.”

Kent - who recorded his maiden BSB podium at Thruxton -  is the second rider to be ruled out of this weekend’s Cadwell Park event with Synetiq BMW’s Danny Buchan recovering from a concussion too.

Neave will emulate his brother Tom, who got his BSB debut in 2018 with the Honda Racing team. Neave continues to race with Honda is currently in close contention for the 2021 SSTK title, with four riders at the top - including Alex Olsen, Luke Mossey and Taylor Mackenzie - split by just a single point.