鈥淎s always, the start of the BSB season was hectic!

鈥淭he level of competition in the BSB National Superstock class is incredibly high, with British Superbike race winners, Isle of Man TT winners, World Endurance riders, and leading British Superbike teams all on the grid. On top of this, there is always a wave of young, up-and-coming riders joining the class each season as they look to progress through the BSB paddock.

鈥淭his creates a field of more than 40 riders, all capable of setting extremely fast lap times. The gap between the very fastest riders and those towards the back is often only two to three seconds, meaning that even a minor mistake or slight lack of pace can cost multiple positions.

鈥淚n addition to this, the bikes are becoming more and more powerful. The top Superstock machines, BMW M 1000 RR and Honda Fireblade, produce over 220 bhp as standard. As a result, riders are often lapping only slightly slower than full spec Superbikes while having much less track time and far fewer race-specific parts.

鈥淚t鈥檚 a common view within UK paddocks is that the National Superstock Championship is one of the most competitive series in all of Europe because the field is so deep and the machinery is so evenly matched.鈥�

Oulton Park

鈥淭he first round was held at Oulton Park, which is considered one of the most challenging circuits on the calendar due to its steep elevation changes, blind corners, and narrow layout that leaves no room for error. This made for an especially demanding start to the season and despite improving my personal best from 2024 by a full second, I still wasn’t fast enough to challenge for points.鈥�

Donington Park

鈥淒onington Park quickly followed for Round 2. This weekend brought a new challenge, with every type of weather imaginable being thrown at us: sunshine, cold and windy conditions, heavy rain, and damp, drying track conditions.

鈥淚 was able to make the most of the conditions whenever I was on track and secured a safe qualifying position just outside the top 20, with good pace and a realistic chance of fighting for points in the race.

鈥淯nfortunately, on lap three, having just made a pass on another rider through the Esses, I entered the penultimate corner of the lap, the Melbourne Hairpin. Eager to stay ahead of the rider behind and challenge the group in front, I got on the throttle too aggressively and spun the rear tyre. The result was a massive highside that launched me into the air before slamming me back onto the track, ending my race just as it was getting started.

鈥淚 was fortunate not to be hit by any of the riders behind. Unfortunately, during the crash I hit my left leg hard on the ground, breaking both my ankle and leg in the process.

鈥淎fter being assessed by the medical team at the circuit, I travelled back to my local hospital for surgery. The operation went well, and I am now focused on my recovery and getting back to full fitness as quickly as possible.鈥�

Snetterton Test Day

鈥淲e started the month with a test day at Snetterton 鈥� my first laps of the circuit on the Fireblade. The main aim was to establish a solid base setting on the bike and get back up to speed around the track having not raced here last year.

鈥淪trict noise limits on the day, combined with some changeable weather, meant we didn’t get as much time on track as we’d have liked. However, as the conditions improved towards the end of the afternoon we managed to put some good laps together and came away with a good setting for the race event back here later in the year.鈥�

Cadwell Park 鈥� NG Road Racing Round 2

鈥淎fter taking four wins and setting a new lap record at round one, we decided to enter the second event of the NG Road Racing Season at Cadwell Park.

鈥淪aturday was a solid start, qualifying second in both the Powerbike and Open classes and taking a pair of second-place finishes in the races. Overnight, we made some changes to the bike set-up and I worked on a few adjustments to my riding style. This made big improvements for Sunday as we went on to take two wins after some really close races and fast, consistent lap times.鈥�

Oulton Park 鈥� BSB Pre-Season Test

鈥淥ur first official BSB event of the year. Two full days on track gave us the chance to run through a wide range of set-up options and really get the bike working the way we want it to.

鈥淚 was happy to put in a new personal best lap time and to be lapping with pretty consistent pace throughout. The test was a lot of hard work with a total of 90 laps logged over the two days which was all worth it as the bike is starting to feel exactly how I want it and we left Oulton Park with a big smile on our faces.鈥�

Donington Park 鈥� Test Day

鈥淗aving missed the official BSB test there earlier in the month, it was important to get some laps in round here ahead of the race later in the season.

鈥淐old temperatures and high winds made the morning session tricky, but as the weather improved through the afternoon I was able to put in some strong lap times. We finished the day happy with the progress made and confident going into the start of the BSB season.鈥�

鈥淪ymonds Racing enjoyed a highly successful outing at the NG Road Racing season opener at Brands Hatch, delivering a dominant performance across both the Powerbike and Open classes.

鈥淢ax qualified on pole position in both categories, went on to win all four races he entered, and broke both class lap records including setting a new outright NG lap record at Brands Hatch Indy in the process,鈥� his team explains.

鈥淲ith the British Superbike season still a few weeks away, we decided to enter round one of the NG Road Racing championship to gain valuable track time.

鈥淔riday鈥檚 test day was especially useful, with lots of track sessions allowing us to test new rear suspension components and a find a good direction for the season ahead.

鈥淪aturday started with qualifying sessions for both classes, where I was able to put the bike on pole in each with some strong laps.

鈥淯nfortunately, due to some work that needed doing on the bike between sessions, we decided to sit out the first Open race to make sure everything was 100% ready. With no championship points on the line, it made sense not to take any unnecessary risks.

鈥淚 got back out in the first Powerbike race and managed to take a lights to flag victory, setting a new lap record of 47.2 seconds along the way.”

鈥淪unday morning鈥檚 second Open race was a bit more of a challenge, starting from the back of the grid after missing Saturday鈥檚 race. This meant a pretty hectic start to the race as I worked my way through from 34th to the lead by lap eight. Once I hit the front I was then able to pull out a gap and take the win by a couple of seconds.

鈥淪tarting from pole again in the next Powerbike race, I made the most of the clear track ahead and really pushed on putting together a strong run of laps under my previous best. By lap 5 I had set a new lap record of 46.7 seconds 鈥� half a second quicker than the day before.

鈥淚n the final Open race of the weekend, I had a bit of a moment coming out of turn one, but was able to regroup and control the race from the front to take another win, along with a new class lap record of 47.0 seconds.

鈥淗aving achieved everything we wanted from the weekend, we decided to sit out the final Powerbike race, saving tyres and ending the weekend on a high.

鈥淥verall, the weekend couldn鈥檛 have gone better, we made lots of progress with the bike set-up and came away with a load of wins and laps records!鈥�

鈥淭he 2026 pre-season has been all about putting in lots of laps, learning as much as possible, and building momentum for the year ahead. Lots of time on track at 笔辞谤迟颈尘茫辞, Almer铆a and Castle Combe 鈥� three totally different tracks 鈥� have all helped me and the team step things up in different ways.鈥�

笔辞谤迟颈尘茫辞

鈥淲e kicked things off at the awesome 笔辞谤迟颈尘茫辞 circuit that has everything from blind crests and heavy braking sections to big drops super high speed corners. To go fast here you鈥檝e got to commit everywhere.

鈥淚t ended up being a really fun and productive weekend from the first session right through to the last. From the first session out, things just started clicking and we kept building from there. Being away from a race event meant I could enjoy riding the bike without any pressure and have the opportunity to try different things with my riding style and position on the bike that I would not normally have the time to do.

鈥淚 managed to put in a new PB too, which was a bonus but the bigger win was the progress made with my riding.鈥�

Almeria

鈥淣ext up was Almeria. A tight, technical track with not much time to breathe. With five days on track, this one was all about getting my head down and putting the laps in.

鈥淚 had a plan in mind to make the most of the track time we had which started out with just doing lots and lots on laps using hard tyres that would last the distance. This allowed me to learn the track, understand how to ride around the lack of grip that came with harder compound tyres, and work more on my riding style on the bike. The second half of the test was all about starting to try different electronic settings to understand what different changes felt like, what suited my riding style and what didn鈥檛, and what I would need to test further back in the UK. The Final runs of the test were about putting in some real fast laps, despite some high winds I improved my lap time by almost a second to be the fastest rider in the test out of about 135 people.鈥�

Castle Combe

鈥淟ast stop was Castle Combe Circuit. It was bright and sunny, but absolutely freezing. Even so, we managed to get some really solid laps in and worked through a busy program of electronic setups with the traction control, anti-wheel, power modes, and engine braking.

鈥淒espite the colder weather it felt great to be back at Combe. There鈥檚 something about riding at my home track that hits a bit different, especially right before the season starts. We ended the day and finished off this run of testing with lots more learnt about the bike 鈥ot quite time to go BSB racing just yet as for some extra testing in March I will be joining NG Road Racing, my old club, for their pre-season test day at Castle Combe and first round of racing at Brands Hatch.鈥�

鈥淚an Hutchinson will join Burrows Engineering / RK Racing for his 2026 Supersport campaigns at both the Northwest 200 and Isle of Man TT, onboard the team鈥檚 Ducati Panigale V2.鈥�

Team boss John Burrows said: 鈥淲e鈥檙e absolutely delighted to have Ian onboard our Ducati V2 in the Supersport class at both the Northwest 200 and the Isle of Man TT Races. Ian needs no introduction 鈥� he鈥檚 a 16-time TT winner, with many of those victories coming in the Supersport class.鈥�

鈥淥ver the last season or so, I鈥檝e seen a real hunger in Ian again, almost a resurgence after what has been a few tough years for him. You can see the desire to succeed is still very much there, and that鈥檚 something that really excites and motivates us as a team.

鈥淚an spent a lot of time circulating with Conor Cummins on our Ducati V2 during the Supersport races at the TT last year, so I鈥檇 like to think he鈥檚 seen something he鈥檚 liked, or felt that the Ducati would suit his riding style.

鈥淥n a personal note, Ian and myself both started our Mountain Course careers back in 2003 at the Manx Grand Prix, so it鈥檚 great to see things come full circle and to be teaming up for 2026.鈥�

鈥淗utchinson made a welcome return to the Mountain Course last year after a year鈥檚 absence, taking a best finish of fifth in the opening Superstock race, along with two more top-ten finishes in the Supersport races.

鈥淭he Supersport class remains one of the most fiercely contested at the TT, but Hutchinson is one of only seven riders to have lapped at more than 128mph in the category, and he鈥檒l be looking to make an immediate impact with Burrows Engineering/RK Racing across both major road race events in 2026.鈥�

Hutchinson added: 鈥淚鈥檝e known John for 22 years, since we both competed in the Manx Newcomers鈥� Race in 2003. I鈥檝e always looked out for his results, and I鈥檝e watched his team grow into one of the best-presented outfits in the paddock, alongside the business he鈥檚 grown. I really admire his dedication 鈥� not just to his own team, but to supporting his sons鈥� racing too 鈥� so to be welcomed into his team is a privilege. I can鈥檛 wait to race the Burrows Engineering Ducati.鈥�

鈥淎s the 2025 season draws to a close, we鈥檙e proud to share a look back at what has been a transformative and inspiring year for True Heroes Racing 鈥� a season filled with growth and gratitude.

鈥淲e began the 2025 season with a bold and symbolic shift 鈥� moving away from Ducati machinery after a decade-long partnership and stepping into a new era with Honda. This transition wasn鈥檛 just about changing bikes; it was about embracing a fresh challenge and continuing to evolve as a team.

鈥淎t the same time, our presence in the ROKiT OFF BMW F900R Cup also evolved with Leon Wilton, who had previously represented us on the Ducati platform, took on a new challenge with a totally different type of machine. We were proud to welcome Corporal Kenny Macleod to the team 鈥� an active RAF serviceman and passionate racer 鈥� who joined us through our ongoing collaboration with military motorsport associations. His arrival not only strengthened our rider lineup but also reinforced our mission to provide meaningful opportunities for our beneficiaries.”

鈥淯nfortunately, early in the season, we experienced a change of rider in our Superstock line-up. While this could have left us without a rider at a critical point in the year, the strength and depth of our team 鈥� both past and present 鈥� quickly came to the fore.

鈥淩ather than scrambling for external replacements, two of our former riders stepped up without hesitation. Dave 鈥淪alty鈥� Sellers and Dave 鈥楽crawn鈥� Mackay, both of whom had previously raced for us on the Ducati and Suzuki platforms, returned to the fold as wildcards. Their willingness to jump back in and represent the team not only ensured we remained competitive but also demonstrated the enduring loyalty and camaraderie that defines True Heroes Racing.”

鈥淟ater in the year, when both Daves were unavailable, we welcomed Paul Cunvin, a Royal Airforce veteran, who took on the Honda ride. Initially joining us to get a feel for the team environment, Paul quickly proved himself a capable and听committed addition, stepping into the role with confidence and professionalism.

鈥淟ooking ahead to the 2026 season, True Heroes Racing is proud to continue growing as more people reach out for support and opportunities to be part of our mission. The team has confirmed its rider line-up for the season, and it reflects both continuity and exciting new chapters.”

鈥淚n the Pirelli National Superstock 1000 Championship, we鈥檒l see Charlie White return to the grid, now joined by Paul Cunvin, a Royal Airforce veteran who made his debut with us in 2025.

鈥淚n the ROKiT OFF BMW F900R Cup, both Leon Wilton and Cpl Kenny Macleod will return to the grid, bringing consistency, experience and a shared commitment to pushing themselves and the team forward.

鈥淏ut perhaps the most powerful story of the season will be that of Chris, our inaugural Grassroots Pathway rider and a veteran of the Parachute Regiment. After competing in the Clubman 600 and Phoenix Open classes, Chris is now stepping up to the British Superbike Championship grid in the ROKiT OFF BMW F900R Cup 鈥� a remarkable achievement in itself.鈥�

鈥淪ymonds Racing wrapped up the BSB season on a high, securing multiple points finishes, continuing the momentum since my return from injury. The team鈥檚 hard work throughout the season culminated in a strong performance at the final round at Brands Hatch.

鈥淭he Donington and Oulton Park rounds proved challenging for me, as I鈥檇 missed both the pre-season test and the early-season races at those circuits. Despite the limited track time, we quickly found a competitive setup and showed impressive pace. Unfortunately, being forced off track during the race at Donington Park and then failing to complete a lap in qualifying at Oulton Park 鈥� due to bike issues and the session being cut short 鈥� meant I had to start from the back of the grid, which ended any real chance of standout results.”

鈥淏rands Hatch was a completely different story. Having visited the circuit earlier in the season for my first ride back after injury, we arrived with a solid base setup and I had valuable recent on-track experience. That allowed us to hit the ground running and show strong pace throughout practice and qualifying.

鈥淪aturday featured two 12-lap races where I delivered solid performances, finishing 14th and 15th. My best lap of 1:27.6 was over a second quicker than my previous personal best at the circuit.

鈥淚 felt great on the bike all weekend and was really pleased we were able to make the most of riding here earlier in the year. Both races were great results and could have been even better if not for a safety car in the first race and a red flag in the second, which slowed my progress further up the results sheet.”

鈥淪unday brought new challenges, with heavy rain and strong winds making for tricky conditions. Starting from P14, I was pushed back on the opening lap and then took a few laps to adjust to the wet conditions with it being my first rain race in a couple of years. Once I found my rhythm, I started picking riders off one by one to finish 16th, just narrowly missing out on a third consecutive points result.

鈥淥verall, Brands Hatch was the strongest round of the BSB season for me and the team. It really showcased the pace we would have been capable of throughout the year, had it not been for the extended injury layoff at the start of the season. With the season now concluded, we鈥檒l take a short break to rest and reset before heading to 笔辞谤迟颈尘茫辞 at the end of November for pre-season testing ahead of 2026.鈥�

鈥淢ax Symonds and his team rose to the challenge at the recent Motorcycle National by NG Road Racing event at Castle Combe Circuit, claiming the coveted 鈥楰ing of Combe鈥� title for the third time, following previous wins in 2022 and 2023.

鈥淭he 鈥楰ing of Combe鈥� crown is decided over a single weekend, consisting of one qualifying session and three races. The rider with the best overall results across the races takes home the title.

鈥淎s a local favourite and previous two-time winner of the event, Max entered the weekend as the rider to beat. However, the competition was fierce, with several British Superbike Championship riders also in contention.”

鈥淢ax made an impressive start, securing pole position and winning Race 1 on Saturday by more than six seconds.”

Max Symonds: 鈥淚 made the most of starting at the front, got away well, and put in some fast laps to build up a gap to the riders behind,鈥� Max said. 鈥淎fter that, I kept an eye on my pit board to manage the gap and bring it home. Despite being able to build up a good lead, the bike felt quite hard to ride with the rear tyre sliding a lot under acceleration so we had some work to do overnight to improve the set-up for Sunday.鈥�

鈥淪unday brought new challenges, with temperatures dropping sharply and the colder track reducing grip levels.

鈥淚n Sunday鈥檚 first race, Max made another strong start, immediately pulling a gap from the pack. Unfortunately, the race was red-flagged due to a crash, forcing a restart. In the rerun, Max faced closer pressure from the chasing riders, but once his tyres reached temperature, he delivered a series of fast laps to stretch his lead and take his second win of the weekend.”

鈥淗eading into the final race, Max stuck to his proven strategy: warm up the tyres, push hard early to build a gap, then manage the pace to the finish. The plan worked perfectly and he once again pulled away from the field and took the win.

鈥淲ith that, Max was crowned King of Combe for the third time in dominant style with pole position, three wins out of three, and the fastest lap of the weekend.鈥�

鈥淲e returned for some more BSB action at the annual bank holiday 鈥楶ark in the Park鈥� Cadwell Park race weekend where they scored points in just the third event back from my injury.

鈥淎lways a technically and physically demanding round, Cadwell Park was a real challenge. We worked hard all weekend to get the bike working well and were rewarded with a best qualifying position of the year so far and a new best lap time of 1:29.8 鈥� over a second faster than in 2024.”

鈥淎fter a strong qualifying session, I was determined to get a good start and make the most of the only race we had this weekend. The race start is always important in such a competitive series but even more so at Cadwell Park where overtaking can be very difficult due to the tight, twisting nature of the circuit.

鈥淎s the lights went out, I got the start perfect and made up a position into turn 1. I carried this momentum throughout the first lap and made up another 2 positions as we came onto the start finish for the first time.”

鈥淯nfortunately, just as we crossed the start finish line to begin lap two, the red flags came out and the race was stopped due to a bad crash over the mountain section. The grid was reset, and all that hard work was for nothing!

鈥淥n the restart, I didn鈥檛 get away quite as well and had to make a few overtakes early on to get back to where I started, and to then move forward from there into the points positions.”

鈥淭he second half of the race was more about survival! The hot conditions had made the circuit feel quite greasy and a couple of riders ahead of me crashed out on the fast first sector of the circuit. This combined with the physically demanding nature of the circuit meant I had to put all my effort into just maintaining my lap times and position to the finish.

鈥淎fter some close battling I lost one position but kept the other riders behind to come across the line in P15 and take my first point scoring result of the season which felt great.鈥�