The championship began in 1988, with bikes conforming to 750cc TT Formula I regulations. These regulations remained in force through to 1993, when Superbike regulations were adopted. The inaugural champion in 1988 was Darren Dixon on a Suzuki RG500 for Padgett's Racing.
During the 1990s Niall Mackenzie was the dominant figure, taking three consecutive titles from 1996 to 1998 aboard a Yamaha YZF750 for the Cadbury's Boost team. In 1997 Mackenzie set the single-season wins record at the time with 13 race victories. Steve Hislop won the 1995 title on a Ducati and added a second championship in 2002, while Australian Troy Bayliss took the 1999 title on a Ducati 996 with GSE Racing. John Reynolds won three times: in 1992, 2001 and 2004.
Shane Byrne emerged as the series' most decorated rider. His first title came in 2003 on a Ducati 998 with Monstermob, then added a second in 2008. In 2009 Leon Camier dominated the series on a Yamaha YZF-R1 for Airwaves GSE in a manner that transformed the championship's format. Camier set a new record of 14 wins at round eight — with four meetings still to run — and ultimately ended the season with 19 wins from 26 races, 9 pole positions and 549.5 points. His total of 19 wins surpassed Mackenzie's previous record of 13 in a season.
In 2006 Ryuichi Kiyonari claimed his first title in dramatic fashion at Brands Hatch, with both Kiyonari and Leon Haslam each winning one race at the finale while Gregorio Lavilla retired from both; 1.5 million viewers watched on ITV1. Kiyonari added titles in 2007 and 2010, making him a three-time champion alongside Mackenzie.
Camier's 2009 dominance prompted the introduction of the Showdown format from 2010 onward. The first nine meetings form the Main Season, after which the top riders qualify as Title Fighters for the final three rounds. Originally six riders contested the Showdown; the number was increased to eight for the 2021 season. Each Title Fighter enters the Showdown with 500 base points plus Podium Credits — three points for a win, two for second and one for third — earned during the Main Season. The 2020 season, run behind closed doors during the global pandemic on a shortened calendar, was the only year since 2009 not to use the playoff format.
Pirelli has been the sole control tyre supplier since 2008, aligning with the Superbike World Championship. For the 2012 season entries were capped at 32 riders across 16 two-bike teams.
Shane Byrne holds the all-time record with six titles: 2003, 2008, 2012, 2014, 2016 and 2017. His 2017 title was decided at the final round at Brands Hatch with Leon Haslam and Josh Brookes also in contention. Brookes, an Australian, won titles in 2015 and 2020. Kyle Ryde claimed back-to-back championships in 2024 and 2025, the 2024 title by a single point from Tommy Bridewell in a last-lap battle at the Brands Hatch finale. Other champions of the 2010s and early 2020s include Tommy Hill (2011), Alex Lowes (2013), Tarran Mackenzie (2021), Bradley Ray (2022) and Tommy Bridewell (2023).
Regular venues include Brands Hatch, Oulton Park, Snetterton, Knockhill, Thruxton, Cadwell Park, Donington Park and the TT Circuit Assen in the Netherlands. Past circuits include Croft, Mallory Park, Rockingham Motor Speedway, Mondello Park in Ireland and Pembrey in Wales.
Motorcycle News (MCN) sponsored the series from 1996. Bennetts Insurance held the title from 2005 to 2008 and again from 2018 to 2025. MCE Insurance was the title sponsor from 2009 to 2017. For 2026 the naming rights were taken by ZYN, a tobacco-substitute product from Sweden, prompting concern from other series sponsors and controversy over UK tobacco advertising regulations.
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