Bathams Racing launch challenge on British Superbike Championship with AJN Steelstock

Bathams Racing, led by motorcycle racing legend and multiple Isle of Man TT winner, Michael Rutter, has announced its plans to enter the 2025 British Superbike Championship with AJN Steelstock as title sponsor.

Thanks to the support from AJN Steelstock, the team, competing throughout 2025 under the ‘Bathams AJN Racing’ banner, will be fulfilling its long-held ambition of featuring in the most competitive motorcycle championship in the world – The Bennetts British Superbike Championship.

As well as a one bike entry in the BSB, Bathams AJN Racing will also feature a front-running two rider line-up in the 2025 Isle of Man TT and the International Northwest 200. An announcement regarding the team’s BSB rider and full road racing activities will be released in due course.

Bathams Racing was formed at the beginning of the 2018 season with Michael Rutter competing in road racing and the Pirelli National Superstock Championship. He was joined later that season by Taylor Mackenzie, with the team finishing as runners up in 2019.

The team continued to compete in the championship with Richard Cooper and Dan Linfoot through to 2022, when it focused on road racing as its priority. Since then, the team has expanded by recruiting rising star of road racing, Craig Neve, to compete alongside Rutter, with both riders regularly featuring at the front of their classes.

With the arrival of AJN Steelstock as title sponsor alongside Bathams Ales, Michael Rutter – who has competed in 431 BSB races during his career, gaining 109 podiums and 29 race wins – is returning to the British Superbike Championship paddock, but this time as team manager.

Commenting, Michael Rutter, said: “If you had told me back in 2018 that our race team would be entering the BSB Championship next year, I’d never have believed you.

“Since Matt and Tim Batham had the idea of forming a race team with me, we’ve always tried to be as competitive as we could at whatever discipline or class of motorcycle racing we’ve entered.

“Just like any rider who competes in our sport, I believe that teams and sponsors also harbour ambitions to compete at the highest level. So, it’s thanks to Alan and AJN Steelstock for joining forces with Bathams Ales to make it possible for us to be able to compete with the best teams, riders and bikes in the country.”

Alan Boyden, Joint Managing Director, at AJN Steelstock, adds: “I’ve known Michael and the team for a while now and it’s been an absolute privilege to have spent time with them at the TT over recent years. Our like-minded thinking and passion for motorcycle racing – and a good pint or two – has helped forge some great friendships.

“Like us, they work and play together as a team, and their professionalism and desire to achieve the very best in everything they do is one of the main reasons that attracted me to the team.

“Along with Michael, Matt and Tim have achieved some great things with Bathams Racing over the years and I’m proud – if not a little humbled – to be working with and supporting them for the team’s first ever challenge in the British Superbike Championship as well as this year’s Northwest 200 and Isle of Man TT campaigns.”

Matt Batham concludes: “Alan and his team at AJN Steelstock are fantastic supporters of the sport, and we hope we can match their ambitions now and in the future.

“We are immensely proud of how well Bathams Racing has established itself in the racing community during the relatively short time that it’s been going. We are always amazed by the support that we get from our fans, supporters and of course the team’s other sponsors, who over the years have made it possible for us to be in a position to write the next chapter of the team’s story.

“2025 is going to be extremely exciting for everyone involved with the team, and we can’t wait to see the bike on next year’s BSB grid”.