The organisers of the Duke Road Race Rankings are pleased to announce that PaddockGossip.com will become their online media partner for the 2008 season. The leading road racing website will offer the very latest news, results, standings, images and downloads from the Duke Road Race Rankings series.

Ben Oates, co-editor of PaddockGossip.com commented We are very pleased to be working with one of the most respected championships in road racing and the prestigious Duke brand. Our readership has grown exponentially since we began 3 years ago.

We started 2008 with a fresh new look and now we have a great new partnership. In 2008 we expect to further increase our readership and we are delighted to help the Duke Road Race Rankings increase its global following.

Duke Managing Director Peter Duke said: Last year was a fantastic one for road racing and the Duke Road Race Rankings. We saw incredible racing, records broken, the Centenary of the Isle of Man TT, the emergence of some amazing new talent and a battle to the last round for the Duke Road Race Rankings title.

I was particularly honoured to present the Geoff Duke Trophy to 2007 winner Conor Cummins at the star-studded Irish Racer Magazine Motorcycle Awards in Belfast in January. At just 21, Conor, of Ramsey in the Isle of Man, has proved to be one of the sensations of road racing. In his first full season on the roads he demonstrated incredible style, talent and maturity, and held off a determined charge from Guy Martin to secure the Duke Road Race Rankings championship.

This year promises to deliver an even more competitive battle for the Geoff Duke Trophy, if that is possible. The line-ups already announced for events like the North West 200 and Isle of Man TT feature an incredibly strong list of talent, demonstrating road racing is going from strength to strength.

The Duke Road Race Rankings also continue to go from strength to strength, growing in stature and importance every year. I am sure are our partnership with PaddockGossip.com will see that trend continue, as well as ensuring fans have up-to-date access to all the latest news, results, standings and more from the ultra-competitive world of “real road racing.

The Duke Road Race Rankings Series commenced in 2002 with three riders being presented with the coveted Geoff Duke Trophy at prestigious award ceremonies in England and Northern Ireland. Ian Lougher lifted the trophy for the first time in 2002, then again in 2005 and 2006. Ryan Farquhar achieved the first double in 2003 and 2004, whilst Manxman Conor Cummins took the honours in 2007.

Jason McAdoo of McAdoo Racing summed up the Duke Road Race Rankings: We feel this championship is the only one really worth winning as it is the only true guide as to the best overall road racer throughout the season.

You will be able to find all the latest information on the Duke Road Race Rankings on PaddockGossip.com before the commencement of the 2008 series, which starts on Sunday 20th April at Olivers Mount Scarborough and concludes twenty-three rounds later on Sunday 28th September at Athea Road Races in Eire.