The British Superbike Championship began in 1988, with bikes conforming to 750cc TT Formula I regulations. Those rules remained in place through to 1993, when Superbike regulations were adopted. The series was relaunched in its modern form in 1996 with Motorcycle News (MCN) as title sponsor.
Niall Mackenzie was the most successful rider of the 1990s, claiming three titles, including a record 13 race wins in the 1997 season. Other prominent champions from the early era include Neil Hodgson, Steve Hislop, and Australian Troy Bayliss — the latter going on to win the Superbike World Championship. Many BSB graduates have gone on to compete in the Superbike World Championship or MotoGP.
The 2006 season produced one of the most dramatic finales in BSB history, with Ryuichi Kiyonari defeating Leon Haslam and Gregorio Lavilla at the final round at Brands Hatch in front of 1.5 million live television viewers. The 2009 season saw Leon Camier set a new record of 14 race wins, clinching the title with four rounds to spare — a dominance that directly prompted the introduction of the Showdown format.
Introduced in 2010, the Showdown divides the season into two phases. The first nine meetings (19 races) form the Main Season, after which the top six riders in the championship — the Title Fighters — are reset to a common base of 500 points plus bonus credits earned for podium finishes during the Main Season. The final three meetings and seven races then determine the champion. The format was inspired by playoff systems used in American motorsport, particularly NASCAR.
In 2021 the playoff field was expanded from six to eight riders to increase competition in the finale. The points awarded during the Showdown are the same as those during the Main Season, with 25 points for a race winner.
Superbike racing machines in BSB are derived from standard production models. Manufacturers have historically sought to exploit homologation rules, producing low-volume machines optimised for racing. From 2008, the series adopted Pirelli as the single control tyre supplier, following the same approach as the Superbike World Championship.
Motorcycles from BMW, Ducati, Honda, Kawasaki, Suzuki, and Yamaha have all competed in the championship. BMW currently competes with the S1000RR and M1000RR; Ducati with the Panigale V4; Honda with the CBR1000RR; Kawasaki with the ZX-10RR; Suzuki with the GSX-R1000; and Yamaha with the YZF-R1.
The championship visits circuits throughout England and Scotland, with historical appearances at venues in the Netherlands, Ireland, and Wales. Regular venues include Brands Hatch, Oulton Park, Snetterton Motor Racing Circuit, Knockhill Racing Circuit, Thruxton Circuit, Cadwell Park, Donington Park, and Silverstone Circuit. Assen in the Netherlands has also hosted rounds. Past venues include Croft Circuit, Mallory Park, Rockingham Motor Speedway, Mondello Park, and Pembrey Circuit.
The series has carried several title sponsors over its history. Motorcycle News held the primary sponsorship from 1996 to 2004, with Bennetts taking over from 2005 to 2008. MCE Insurance then served as title sponsor from 2009 to 2017, followed by a return of Bennetts from 2018 to 2025. From 2026 the series has been branded the ZYN British Superbike Championship, after Swedish tobacco-substitute maker ZYN — a naming arrangement that drew controversy given UK regulations banning tobacco advertising in sport.
The BSB weekend card includes a number of support championships: the British Supersport Championship, the National Superstock 1000 Championship, the National Superstock 600 Championship, and the British Motostar Championship.
The British Superbike Championship has served as a crucial stepping stone for riders aiming for the world stage. Its combination of close racing, nationally familiar circuits, and high television exposure has made it one of the most-watched domestic motorsport series in the UK. Attendances of over 368,000 in a single season and cumulative television audiences running into millions demonstrate its continued relevance in the British motorsport landscape.