The key players in this year's British Superbike Championship were present as Matthew Geldhill, the managing director of Bennetts Insurance Services, formally confirmed their enthusiastic sponsorship of the country's premier racing series - the launch event was held in the prestigious Audi Forum in London's Piccadilly, attracting a strong attendance from the television and news media, teams, riders, sponsors and the industry.

"The sponsorship enables Bennetts to drive home its brand to thousands of bikers and biking fans in the UK," Mr Gledhill commented, adding that his company will also be adding to the championship: "we will be driving home the message that this is the very pinnacle of motorsport in this country."

That message will be strengthened by the growth of television coverage that has been arranged by the commercial rights holders, Dorna UK. Their managing director Tony Partis announced a continuation of the live broadcasting of every event, with the afternoon programme covering both Bennetts British Superbike races plus the Metabo British Supersport and Virgin Mobile Cup races.

This coverage by Sky Sports amounts to 46 hours of live coverage, plus 92 hours of repeated 'as live' coverage. New for 2005 is coverage by Channel. 4, with some 20 hours of highlights, equating to a minimum of 90 minutes for each round.

The action captured by the television cameras promises to be the most closely fought ever, with five of the world's leading manufacturers fielding factory backed teams. Among them is Rizla Suzuki, whose defending champion John Reynolds delivered a defiant 'don't rule me out' message by video link as he continued the healing process on his badly broken right leg in a hyperbaric chamber.

He intends to be in action for the opening round at Brands Hatch on Easter Monday, knowing that early season points are vital in the chase for the title, telling presenter Jonathan Green "I am working hard to be fit - I feel all dressed up for the party, but not part of it and that hurts. I am determined to be out there - don't count me out." His team-mate Scott Smart is "pleased with the way things are going - the engine is phenomenal but we still have a bit of work to do on the chassis, at the moment its good, but not great."

His enthusiasm is matched by Sean Emmett who is heading up the Virgin Mobile Samsung Yamaha challenge. First tastes of the team's all new 'big bang' engine have excited him. "It feels good - we are making good progress and in testing it is a second a lap faster than last year's bike."

The team everyone is watching is HM Plant Honda - their two riders Ryuichi Kiyonari and Michael Rutter have consistently set the pace, while Ulsterman Jeremy McWilliams, back in domestic action after a dozen years and 186 grand prix races, told those present: "The main thing I have learnt about this championship is that Superbikes are very fast - I'm more nervous now that at the start of any season."

Glen Richards who continues with the Hawk Kawasaki team reckons: "the championship gets stronger every year, but we are going fine," while Darrell Healey, whose GSE Ducati riders Leon Haslam and James Haydon missed the launch to continue their testing in Spain, described his team's return to the championship as "exciting and a real challenge." Adding to the competitive nature of the championship is the new Audi quattro Performance Award, announced by Audi's Events Marketing Manager Nick Broomhall.

This new initiative provides all of the riders with the chance of winning a 'must have' prize of a £30,000 limited edition Audi TT quattro to the best all round performer in the championship.

Points will be awarded to the rider who tops the time-sheets in each of the two qualifying sessions, the pole position starter, the winner of each of the two races and also the rider who sets the fastest lap in each of the two races.

A league table will be maintained throughout the season, and the news of the award was greeted enthusiastically by the riders, with Michael Rutter noting that had been operational during the 2004 season he would have been enjoying the delights of driving this top of the range, exotic sportscar, rather than John Reynolds who took the Superbike crown.

"Can't we turn the clock back?" asked the HM Plant Honda rider, adding "this is a prize that we all want to win - it is magnificent and will ensure everyone is on the pace throughout."

The car on offer is one of only 1000 being produced by Audi and is one of the richest prizes, for an individual rider, up for grabs in the motorcycle racing world and underlines the company's commitment to British Superbikes alongside its long standing provision of course, medical and safety cars.

And, the THINK! Road safety campaign which backed the championship last year, and who used Reynolds as their ambassador to promote the safe riding message, confirmed that they will again be linked with the championship, as an associate sponsor.

ends