BSB: Lee Jackson returns to Hawk Racing alongside Charlie Nesbitt

Lee Jackson will line-up alongside Charlie Nesbitt at Hawk Racing in the Bennetts British Superbike Championship next season.

The two-time BSB race winner returns to the team, which will be known as MasterMac Honda, that he first raced for as a teenager in 2013.

Initially, Jackson competed in the National Superstock Championship for Hawk, before progressing into the Superbike class for two seasons. Jackson’s uncle, also called Lee Jackson, raced for Hawk Racing in 2003.

Jackson finished fourth overall in BSB for the second consecutive season this year, and was the only rider to finish all 33 races. Jackson was informed in August that he would be replaced at FS-3 Racing Kawasaki by Jason O’Halloran in 2024, with Max Cook keeping his spot for a second year.

The Lincoln-based racer had been with FS-3 since 2018, first in the Superstock class and then onboard a Superbike since 2020. Jackson claimed his maiden BSB wins with the team, both at Oulton Park, and has been a consistent threat towards the front of the grid in the last two seasons.

“For 2024 it’s all change for me as I’m swapping to Honda machinery which, after 4 years on the same bike, I’m really looking forward to,” Jackson said. “Luckily, I’ve had some laps on the bike already and I felt comfy straight away so with more laps and time, I know we will be a strong package.

“Coming back in the Hawk team after a few years away is great for myself as I know everyone here and we can hit the ground running straight away, putting ourselves in good order ready for Round 1.”

As he has for the past three seasons (Rory Skinner in 2021 and 2022 followed by Cook in 2023) Jackson will have one of the championship’s brightest prospects alongside him in Nesbitt. The 22-year-old impressed in his first full season onboard a Superbike, bagging a hat-trick of podiums at Thruxton.

Whilst he lost out to Cook in the Rookies Cup, Nesbitt was the highest placed rookie in the overall championship, ending his year 11th.

“I’m really happy to be continuing with Hawk,” Nesbitt said. “We built up a good path and I’m excited to be able to continue with the project. I’m grateful to the team for the opportunity and let’s see what we can do.”

The family-run Hawk outfit will enter its second season with Honda machinery after switching from Suzuki at the end of the 2021 season. 2024 will be the team’s 26^th within the British paddock.

“We’re very excited to bring Charlie and Lee together,” Steve Hicken, Hawk Racing Team Manager, added. “Lee is one of the most consistent and experienced riders in Bennetts BSB but still only 28 and with lots of ambition, while Charlie is one of the hottest prospects around and has the potential to take another big step forward this year.

“There’ll be tough competition as always, but we think this is a really strong line-up and, with the support of the whole team, look forward to them both having a successful season.”