Ryuichi Kiyonari is under no illusions that the defence of his Bennetts British Superbike crown will be anything but tough as the major players in the country's premier championship have confirmed their grid line-ups.

The Japanese star continues into a fourth season with the factory backed HM Plant Honda team and has already begun testing ahead of the new season in which he will have the upcoming teenage Ulster rider Jonathan Rea as his team-mate. He raced last year for the satellite Red Bull team, impressing with strong performances as he finished fourth overall, to earn his place alongside Kiyonari.

His graduation into the full factory team has prompted a move for Karl Harris. The former triple British Supersport Champion has signed for Hydrex Honda, with his determination to enjoy maiden race winning glory in the top flight heightened.

Shane `Shakey' Byrne will also be riding Honda next term, having signed to head up the Stobart Motorsport challenge for honours, a move that has re-united him with team-boss Paul Bird. They had a highly successful partnership during the 2003 season in which Byrne won a dozen races to take the title, also taking a winning double in the World Championship, to pave the way into a couple of years of MotoGP action.

Byrne, sixth overall last year, winning once with Rizla Suzuki, will have 21 year old Tom Sykes as his team-mate - the Huddersfield rider was the runner-up in Supersports and is keen to make the most of his chance aboard the latest specification Honda, beginning testing early in the New Year.

Byrne's departure from Suzuki, together with that of James Haydon, means the Rizla squad has a blend of youth and experience as they bid to regain the crown last won for them by John Reynolds. Cal Crutchlow, the reigning Supersport Champion, has already impressed in their colours, taking second place on his debut outing in the Mallory Park `Race of the Year.'

The Coventry rider will have the experienced Chris Walker, a race winner in the World Championship and four times previously the runner-up in the domestic title chase - he proved his speed and style by winning the Mallory Park race to clinch the deal and now his hungry for the crown.

Haydon, meanwhile, has signed for Virgin Yamaha - the third time he has ridden for them and the team with who he last tasted race winning glory, at Knockhill. He will have an all-new R1, as will the team's highly talented Tommy Hill who has ridden in their colours for the past three seasons.

Gregorio Lavilla, the champion of two years ago, and Leon Haslam, who both had powered into last October's Brands Hatch finale having the title within their grasp, only for Kiyonari to deny them, are both back for more. The Airwaves Ducati duo have already begun their intensive testing programme and are certain to again be at the forefront of the chase for honours.

Michael Rutter is hoping that a switch of team, and bike, will kick-start his title bid - the most experienced rider on the starting grid, he has twice been the runner-up, and as he has an MSS Discovery Kawasaki team largely built around him is determined to maximise the opportunity. And that is also the case for Leon Camier, a former winner of the Supersport title, who moves into Superbike action riding for the Honda team.

The new season begins at Brands Hatch on Easter Monday 9 April, with the full calendar of 13 double race rounds:

23-25 March Snetterton (Official Test)

9 April Brands Hatch GP

15 April Thruxton

29 April Silverstone

7 May Oulton Park

20 May Snetterton

17 June Mondello Park

1 July Knockhill

3-4 July Croft (Official Test)

15 July Oulton Park

22 July Mallory Park

12 August Croft

27 August Cadwell Park

23 September Donington Park

14 October Brands Hatch