Stuart Higgs

The race director

THE CHAMPIONSHIP’S BENEVOLENT (usually) dictator and his team run the paddock with the sort of iron-fist/ velvet-glove combination necessary to keep a show the size of BSB on the rails, and on schedule. On race weekends, Stuart is based in Race Direction in front of banks of TV monitors with a bewildering array of headsets and walkietalkie. The rest of the time he is responsible for the commercial health of the championship. What, then, does he think is the foundation of BSB’S success? ‘A diverse collection of people and relevant products. People want to be part of it, they all want to be here.’ His reference is the glory days of World Superbike, specifically those Brands Hatch races when Foggy ruled the world. ‘Never mind the crowd figures, those events have never been surpassed. We have occupied some WSBK space because we remember what it was.’ Even the BSB event at Assen in September is an echo of those days rather than an attempt to expand into some sort of international championship. ‘After Brands everyone used to go to Assen, it is a reminder of Superbike’s golden era.’ But nothing ruins a successful product like complacency, so what’s on the watch list? The answer is the Supersport 600 class, ‘given the factories’ ambivalence.’ Is the answer Moto2? ‘Yes, given the gap between Moto3 and Superbike using slicks.’ One problem: ‘Price!’ Stuart likens the current market to the first flat-screen televisions and expects prices to plummet like when the Moto2 World Championship switches to Triumph power next year. We need 25,000 euro bikes not 75,000 euro bikes.’ And with that he asked the pace-car driver about track conditions, signed-off a document to enable a crashed bike to be reclaimed by its team, and discussed tyre choice for the British Talent Cup with Alberto Puig before mandating wets. Never a dull…

‘His reference is the glory days of Brands Hatch, when Foggy ruled the world’