BSB: Christian Iddon joins Oxford Products Racing Ducati for 2023

Christian Iddon will be a Ducati rider once again in next season’s Bennetts British Superbike Championship after signing for Oxford Products Racing Ducati.

Iddon takes the seat vacated by Tommy Bridewell, who has joined the PBM Ducati team for 2023, and returns to the manufacturer which helped him reach the front of the BSB grid between 2020-2021.

In those two seasons, Iddon secured his maiden BSB race wins (3) and recorded a total of 21 podiums during his time with Paul Bird’s team. Iddon finished third overall in 2020 and then fourth in 2021, and was still in with a chance of the title heading into the season finales of both campaigns.

Pick up a copy of this week’s MCN for an exclusive interview with Christian Iddon about his move to Oxford Products racing Ducati.

“Ducati is the manufacturer that I have had the most success with when I had two fantastic years on the bike previously,” Iddon said. “My 2021 season was much better than my 2020 season, but the end result didn’t reflect it, it was circumstance that did. I felt I was getting stronger all the time on it, so it feels great to be heading back to Ducati and to a new team for me with Oxford Products Racing Ducati.

“Moto Rapido is a team that I have kept an eye on for a while, I have always been pals with the Team Owner Steve, so hopefully that stays! It is a team that has always had success, but in the last couple of years, they have had even more. They have really stepped up with the combined effort of rider with Tommy [Bridewell] and the team in recent years.”

Despite enjoying a much more positive campaign than teammate Josh Brookes in 2021, Iddon was let go by Bird and spend this season with Buildbase Suzuki. 2022 proved to be a tough year for Iddon, who sustained two serious injuries during the season.

He badly injured his shoulder at Knockhill, before breaking his hand and suffering a concussion in a collision with Rory Skinner in the opening round of the Showdown at Oulton Park. Iddon ended the year 15^th overall.

“I am coming off the back of what I think has been my hardest ever year in the championship. I have had worst seasons with injuries, but I have never had one where the effort and the possibility was so contrasting to the actual result that we actually got because I believe we had the potential. That is the nature of the beast and that is racing and sport.

“I am really looking forward now to trying to right those wrongs and get back to where I believe I should be and setting my sights back on my goal, which is to be British Champion.”

The team has beaten PBM in each of the last two seasons with their Ducati V4 R. Bridewell finished second to Tarran Mackenzie in 2021, before finishing third overall this year.

“I’m very pleased to welcome Christian to the team; he was the number one choice for me,” Team Owner, Steve Moore said. “His experience of Ducati and the great form he had on the V4R before is confidence inspiring. The bike has developed substantially since he last rode it, so I can’t wait to get him on our bike and begin making it work for him with the 2023 updates.

“I am sure he will thrive with the focus of being in a one rider team. I’ve already had many technical conversations with him, and we seem to be on the same page – he’s as nerdy as me with the technical details so we do get along really well and that’s key to the racing family ethic in our team.  He even seems to have a sense of humour too, which he’ll need!”

The team has also announced the extension of their title sponsorship deal with Oxford Products. The partnership enters its fifth year in 2023.

Oxford Products Racing Ducati will also be in the Quattro Plant British Supersport Championship next season as the official factory team. Australian Ben Currie will represent the team.

Pick up a copy of this week’s MCN for an exclusive interview with Christian Iddon about his move to Oxford Products racing Ducati.