Honda CB500 Cup
Encyclopedia
The Honda CB500 Cup is now a three-make motorcycle racing
series based in the United Kingdom
. For the 2009 season the series is now run by the Thundersport GB club and the name has been changed to "Thundersport500". This re-branded class also allows two other 500cc twin machines to compete, namely the Kawasaki ER5 and Suzuki GS500. The machines are allowed limited modifications. Most modifications are for safety reasons only and a power limit set to 52bhp.
dominated the inaugural French
CB500 Cup in 1996. The UK series began in 1997 (1996 in France) and was won by James Toseland
who was rewarded with a Castrol Honda European Supersport contract. Honda France also took Charpentier to the European Supersport championship in 1998 and watched him beat a certain James Toseland to victory at the Brands Hatch
round.
The 1998 CB500 Cup saw the emergence of yet more talented youngsters, none more so than 1998 Champion James Ellison
, who went on to win two European Superstock titles, a British Superbike Privateer title and World Endurance title, before moving in to MotoGP.
Motorcycle racing
Motorcycle sport is a broad field that encompasses all sporting aspects of motorcycling. The disciplines are not all "races" or timed-speed events, as several disciplines test a competitor's various riding skills.-Motorcycle racing:...
series based in the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
. For the 2009 season the series is now run by the Thundersport GB club and the name has been changed to "Thundersport500". This re-branded class also allows two other 500cc twin machines to compete, namely the Kawasaki ER5 and Suzuki GS500. The machines are allowed limited modifications. Most modifications are for safety reasons only and a power limit set to 52bhp.
History
Sébastien CharpentierSébastien Charpentier (motorcycle racer)
Sébastien Charpentier is a French motorcycle road racer. He is the only man to have won the Supersport World Championship in successive years, and ....
dominated the inaugural French
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
CB500 Cup in 1996. The UK series began in 1997 (1996 in France) and was won by James Toseland
James Toseland
James Michael Toseland is a former English motorcycle racer. Toseland was the World Superbike Champion on a Ten Kate Honda, who also won the Superbike World Championship on a Ducati. He is one of only two men, the other being Troy Corser, to have won the Superbike World Championship for two...
who was rewarded with a Castrol Honda European Supersport contract. Honda France also took Charpentier to the European Supersport championship in 1998 and watched him beat a certain James Toseland to victory at the Brands Hatch
Brands Hatch
Brands Hatch is a motor racing circuit near West Kingsdown in Kent, England. First used as a dirt track motorcycle circuit on farmland, it hosted 12 runnings of the British Grand Prix between 1964 and 1986 and currently holds many British and international racing events...
round.
The 1998 CB500 Cup saw the emergence of yet more talented youngsters, none more so than 1998 Champion James Ellison
James Ellison (motorcycle racer)
James Desmond Ellison is an English motorcycle racer. He is currently set to make a return to Moto GP for the 2012 season on a CRT bike for Paul Bird Motorsport. He is a double European Superstock champion, World Endurance champion and has previously raced in British Superbikes, World Supersport,...
, who went on to win two European Superstock titles, a British Superbike Privateer title and World Endurance title, before moving in to MotoGP.
2009 Thundersport500 riders
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Famous CB500 Cup racers
- James Ellison - British Superbike rider & former World endurance and Euro Superstock Champion
- James Toseland - 2-time World Superbike Champion & MotoGP rider
- Gordon Blackley - British Superbike Rider & Isle of Man TT Podium finisher
- Sébastien Charpentier - World Supersport Champion
- Richard Cooper - British Superstock rider
- Jon Kirkham - British Superstock rider
- Dennis Hobbs - British Supersport rider
- Maria Costello - Female TT lap and Guinness World Record holder
UK Champions
| Year | Title | Rider |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | Superclub Champion | Tom Young |
| 2007 | Superclub Champion | Ryan Tyers |
| 2006 | Superclub Champion | Alex Gault |
| 2005 | Superclub Champion | Rick Coles |
| 2004 | Superclub Champion | Jonty Dixon |
| 2003 | Superclub Champion | Stephen Thompson |
| 2002 | Superclub Champion | William Snook |
| 2001 | Superclub Champion | Richard Harrison |
| 2000 | Superclub Champion | Chris Firmin |
| 1999 | Star of Tomorrow Champion | Dominic Davies |
| 1998 | National Champion | Gordon Blackley |
| Newcomers Champion | James Ellison | |
| 1997 | National Champion | James Toseland |
| Newcomers Champion | Chris Sherring | |