An all-new team will line-up on the Superbike grid for the 2024 Bennetts British Superbike Championship.

The C&L Fairburn Properties/Jackson Racing team will step up to the Bennetts British Superbike Championship in 2024 in the Pathway-specification class led by current rider Billy McConnell, who will be joined by new signing Jaimie van Sikkelerus who makes the move from the Quattro Group British Supersport Championship.

Since joining in 2022, Chris Fairburn’s team have quickly established themselves in the Superstock class and will now move into Bennetts BSB with Honda Fireblade machinery prepared by Jackson Racing and built to the new Pathway specification technical regulations.

McConnell will enter his third year with the team and returns to the Superbike class he last competed in on a full-time basis in 2016. The Australian first contested the series in 2006 when he rode for Virgin Yamaha, having won the Virgin Mobile Yamaha R6 Cup, and has subsequently lined up with MSS Kawasaki (2008), Smiths Racing BMW (2015) and FS-3 Racing Kawasaki (2016) as well as having a one-off outing for OMG Racing Suzuki.

The 2014 British Supersport Champion will now make the move back to BSB after another successful season in the Superstock series where he’s taken a victory at Thruxton as well as top three finishes at Silverstone, Snetterton, Brands Hatch and, most recently, Donington Park.

Dutchman van Sikkelerus, meanwhile, joins the team after impressing in the Supersport Championship. The 26-year old made his debut in the class in 2021 where, after taking a podium finish at Donington Park, he finished tenth overall.

He improved to fifth overall last year after taking five podiums, which included a first victory at Donington Park, and currently lies in sixth overall in this year’s championship standings after another victory on the MPM Routz Racing Yamaha at Donington.

Billy McConnell said:
“I’m really looking forward to getting back into BSB and the new Pathway rules are a way of getting back onto the grid. It’s been a few years since I rode in BSB, but I’ve always wanted to get back and mix it up with the top guys again. With 15 more races in the season, we’ll get a stack more track time and it’s good to get everything finalised before heading into winter. I’m moving back to BSB with a good team so I can’t wait to get stuck in and see what we can do.”

Jaimie van Sikkelerus :
“I’m very excited to work together with the C&L Fairburn Properties/Jackson Racing team in the new BSB Pathway class! A lot of things will change for me next year – new team, new bike, new class – but after three years in Supersport with our private team, it’s the right moment. I’m very motivated and will learn a lot and I’m delighted to stay in the British Championship because of the event, the high-level racing and the big crowds. Because of that, I’m extremely thankful to Chris Fairburn and the team, as well as my personal sponsors, for giving me this opportunity. I can’t wait to jump into the new 2024 season!”

Chris Fairburn, Team Owner:
“It’s been a whirlwind 18 months which started when we went from being one of Billy’s personal sponsors to setting up our own team at the beginning of 2022 and now moving into the premier British Superbike Championship class. I’d like to think we’ve quickly become one of the leading, most professional teams in the Superstock class and moving into the Superbike class has always been on my mind.

“It’s something I knew I wanted to happen at some stage and the new Pathway-specification regulations have fast-forwarded the decision-making process. It makes perfect sense for us to make the move now and with three races and more track time every weekend, we’ll be able to maximise our potential and show what we can do. With Billy, we have the ideal rider and with all his experience I’m sure he’ll continue to show his talent whilst also being the perfect foil for Jaimie. He’s impressed greatly in the Supersport class and deserves his opportunity in BSB; we’re sure he’ll make his mark.”

Bennetts British Superbike Championship Series Director Stuart Higgs concluded:
“I am delighted that the C&L Fairburn Properties/Jackson Racing team is stepping up into the Bennetts British Superbike Championship, this is precisely the justification for the introduction of the BSB Pathway class. The team have had exceptional standards of presentation and operation and will be more than comfortable in the Superbike class.

“I am pleased to welcome Billy McConnell back to the Bennetts BSB Championship; he is an absolute fans’ favourite having first joined the series in 2006 after winning the Virgin Mobile Yamaha R6 Cup. I also welcome Jaimie to the Championship as the first full-time Dutch rider in Bennetts BSB. He has made quite an impression over the past three seasons in the Supersport class so this is a great opportunity for him.

“I look forward to seeing the team continue to go from strength-to-strength and further demonstrate that the BSB Pathway class is the route to a great future in the Bennetts British Championship.”

Featured Images: Bennetts British Superbikes, Olithephoto.