Former British Superbike champion and present British Eurosport commentator James Whitham has given his predictions ahead of the 2011 BSB season-opener at B🍎rands Hatch on Monday.

"There's ꦗa lot of anticipation this year with riders returning to the championship, like former winner Shakey Byrne. He's going to be quick, he's tested really well and he's with one of the 𝐆top teams in HM Plant Honda," said Whitham.

"I think 🐭the fan's favourite is Tommy Hill. After a good season last year, he's swapped teams and he's very confident.

"The defending champion Ryuichi Kiyonari is going to take some beating if he gets hiဣs eye in, but we know how🃏 fragile he can be, little things can put him off his stride so he's by no means a firm favourite in the championship for me."

Whitham - who will once again work alongside Jack Burnicle, Tony Carter and James Haydon at British Eurosport - is especially looking forward to the BไSB debut of former MotoGP star John Hopkins.

Hopkins, who finished tenth in a sꦐtand-in ride for Rizla Suzuki during last Sunday's Spanish MotoGP, has signꦫed for the Crescent Samsung BSB team.

"John Hopkins is ꦚa big coup for the championship," said Whitham. "He's a colourful character, he's loud and he's got the biggest baseball cap in t🧔he world!

"I can't wait to see how he's going to get to grips with the best, quirky British tracks. There's no doubt the man has got the talent if he's still got the fire iﷺn his belly and he can get his head aro♏und the circuits."

2011 will be the second year that BSB has us🐻ed a two-part championship points system.

Following the first nine events, the top six riders in the standings will qualify for 'The Showdown' and bec🌺ome the 'Title Fighters' for the remaining three events, battling it out to become champion.

They will each be awarded♏ 500 points, plus aﷺdditional points for each podium they have achieved up to that point.

Meanwhile the remaining riders will continue💟 to contest the 'B𓄧ritish Superbike Riders' Cup'.