If there are only 18 riders registered in the World Superbike Championship, there are 30 in British Superbike because Sylvain Barrier has just joined the high-level British championship, where he will reunite with Scott Redding, signing with the new team Brixx Ducati to ride a Panigale V4.
Born on October 20 (like his nickname “Syl'20”) 1988 in Oyonnax, Barrier won his first title by winning the 2003 cc Mauritius Championship in 50, the island where his parents ran a hotel establishment. Then he finished first in a regional championship in South Africa in 3, before coming to France to participate in the Dark Dog Academy with Marc Fontan in Supersport in 2004.
He then stood out by winning the FIM Superstock 1000 Cup twice in a row with the BMW Motorrad Italia GoldBet team in 2012 and 2013. This team officially represented BMW, with Marco Melandri et Chaz Davies in Superbike.
Barrier moved to the Superbike World Championship in 2014 on a BMW Evo from the BMW Motorrad Italia team, then in 2015 he returned again to the Superstock 1000 on a Yamaha with Team Guandalini. In 2016 it was on a Team Pedercini Kawasaki that Sylvain returned to World Superbike.
We found him in 2017 in the MotoAmerica championship of Wayne Rainey, on a BMW entered by Brixx Performance, then in 2018 in British Superbike on a Smiths Racing BMW, with Peter Hickmann as teammate, and as best result a place in the top 10 at Brands Hatch.
The long BMW adventure is now over since “Syl’20” has just signed for the new Brixx Ducati team to ride a Panigale V4. This team is supported by the JHP Racing/Ducati Coventry dealer, who previously helped Troy bayliss, Neil Hodgson, Michael Rutter and Stuart Easton.
Sylvain Barrier declared: “ I'm very excited for this year and the new project coming up. Last year I had the opportunity to experience the championship and the circuits here in the UK and now I feel ready to take the next step with a great team and a great machine. The new Ducati V4 looks very competitive and I can't wait to start testing in March! »
Team principal Barrie Baxter said: “ I am delighted to enter the British championship with Sylvain on the new Ducati V4R and with a brilliant team with great experience. It will be a year of learning as we help develop a new bike, in a new series with a new team. We're just going to work hard to grow throughout this season and see what's achievable. »
Photos © BSB / MotorSport Vision Racing
