The eighth round of the British Superbike championship travels up north to Fife in Scotland for this years round at Knockhill. The season so far has seen Shane Bryne confidently dominate, but the previous round at Oulton Park saw a new winner for the first time out in the perpetually smiling Yorkshireman and Rizla Suzuki mounted Tom Sykes. With the paddock still feeling the effects of Craig Jones' tragic death, many riders will be honouring the memory of the brilliantly entertaining rider with personal mementos in his respect. Cal Crutchlow will be wearing a replica of Jones' helmet, whereas Dean Ellison of Co-ordit Yamaha will drop a digit from his usual number to match the 18 of the Parkalgar Honda rider.
The World Superbike paddock rolls into the UK for the first of the two UK rounds this weekend at Brands Hatch in what is scheduled to be a mouth watering thrill ride for the fans. Firstly it’s a chance for the UK fans to see Troy Bayliss, one of the paddocks great stars for the last time around the Brand Hatch circuit. He has been a fantastic ambassador for the sport over the years, taking two world superbike titles, 20+ pole positions, 40+ wins, and not forgetting that fantastic win in the final race of the 990cc MotoGP era.
Round two of the Bennetts British Superbike Championship took place at Thruxton in Hampshire last weekend with more than the usual sense of excitement and urgency than normal because it would be the first meeting of the season to see genuine racing due to the snowed off Brands Hatch round a fortnight ago.