My preview review of the forthcoming I, Superbiker, The Showdown
I, SUPERBIKER THE SHOWDOWN, which will be shown in cinemas across the UK and Ireland from February 21, is a high-octane behind the scenes look at last year’s British Superbike Championship.
Last year’s film was more of a season review but this time around it’s a fly on the wall behind the scenes documentary, looking into lives and psyche of the 2011 British Superbike Championship’s top six contenders: Tommy Hill, Josh Brookes, Michael Laverty, Ryuichi Kiyonari and American John Hopkins.
The BSB series is regarded as the world’s leading national championship, and I, Superbiker is Series Director Stuart Higgs’ way of taking the MSVR promoted series to masses.
The unprecedented and controversial Showdown format whittles a full grid of title contenders in April, down to just six protagonists going into the final three rounds in September and October – guaranteeing the large British Superbike audiences a last round, last race thriller.
There were tears of agony in 2010 for Englishman Tommy Hill, as he watched his title hopes go up in flames at the final round at Oulton Park, losing out to Japan’s Ryuichi Kiyonari on the final day.
This time around Swan Yamaha mounted Hill didn’t have to peek through his fingers at the I, Superbiker première in London; the 2011 British Superbike Champion happy in the knowledge that after 90 minutes of film-making, he could watch himself lift the coveted BSB title for the very first time.
It was the most enthralling BSB finale in history, with Hill pipping American John Hopkins to the title in the final race of the season by a miniscule, six-thousandths of a second.
Hill said afterwards: “After last year’s movie some people asked me did I have a stunt man doing the racing scenes. I had to tell them I was a professional motorcycle racer and not an actor. That’s why the film is so good for BSB as it takes the series to a wider audience.”
And with a top soundtrack from David Vanian of the Damned and a theme tune written by Phil Collen of Def Leppard, the Mark Sloper directed film is a must see.
Local man Michael Laverty, Hill’s team-mate last season, also features strongly in the movie which is set to break all records when it hits the big screen at the end of the month. Unfortunately from the 120 listed cinemas, only one is screening in Northern Ireland. So expect big crowds at the Odyssey complex in Belfast.
Southern listings include Dundrum, Swords and Coolock; Dungarvan, Mayo and Gorey