Shane Byrne heads confidently into his favourite Brands Hatch circuit for the rescheduled round of the Bennetts British Superbike Championship this weekend intent on tightening his grip on the title that he last held five year ago.
The Airwaves Ducati rider has won three of the four races held so far, opening up a 39 points advantage over his team-mate Leon Camier and unusually as Byrne prepares for these races, on the demanding grand prix circuit, that could be crucial to his hopes, he already knows that he will be on pole position for them.
He had secured that starting slot during qualifying for the snow aborted opening round last month and that has been carried over to this weekend. Now he is expecting to maintain his winning pedigree at the Kent circuit where he began his racing career and enjoyed a milestone double victory as a ‘wild-card’ rider in the 2003 World Superbike round.
Byrne heads the pack but alongside him at the front of the grid should be his title rival Cal Crutchlow, the HM Plant Honda rider, who is facing a race against time to be fit after sustaining an ankle injury in a crash during last Sunday’s round at Oulton Park.
Karl Harris, also battling back from injury, has a front row start for his Rob Mac Racing Yamaha, with Leon Haslam alongside him – the 24 year old Derbyshire rider is playing catch-up in the title stakes and really needs a winning double to put his hopes firmly back on track.
Camier, currently second in the title stakes, will start his Airwaves Ducati from the second row of the grid, alongside the fast maturing Tom Sykes on the Rizla Suzuki, a rider who will be hoping for an upturn in fortune after two crashes in his last three races.
Simon Andrews, aboard the Lloyds British Jentin Yamaha will be looking for a strong performance as will the vastly experienced Michael Rutter whose career has been rejuvenated since joining the North West 200 Ducati team.
Stuart Easton and Billy McConnell are capable of strong performances aboard the MSS Discovery Kawasakis while James Ellison is hungry for more podium finishes after his superb showing last time out in Cheshire. His Hydrex Bike Animal Honda team-mate Guy Martin is also one to watch, along with Relentless Suzuki rider Michael Laverty.
His brother John will be looking to extend his advantage in the Daily Star Cup. The BuildbaseNW200 Ducati rider has won three of the four races so far, beaten only by Steve Mercer aboard the Bob Farnham Tuning Sondel Yamaha – he could make local knowledge count having a strong track record at the circuit. James Buckingham and Tom Tunstall also expect to be in the hunt for honours.
Superbikes on Track:
Saturday 10th May
11.10 - 11.40 and 15.45-16.15 free practice
Sunday 11th May10.25 - 10.40 warm-up practice
13.15 Race one
16.20 Race two
British Eurosport 2
Sunday 11th May 1300 - 1430 LIVE Superbike race one & support race
1515 - 1700 LIVE Supersport & Superbike race two
1900 - 2030 Highlights
Monday 12th May: 1430 - 1600 Highlights
Tuesday 13th May: 1845 - 2015 Highlights
Thursday 15th May: 2115 - 2215 Bennetts British Superbikes Extra
Tuesday 20th May: 1900 - 2030 Highlights
Sunday 25th May: 1200 - 1330 Highlights
Channel 4: Wednesday 14th May01.10 - 02.05 Highlights
Lap records: 2.3009 mile Grand Prix Circuit
Superbikes: Gregorio Lavilla, Ducati, 1:25.724, 96.63mph/155.51kph 09/04/07
Supersport: Pere Riba, Kawasaki, 1m 28.688s, 105.87mph, 09/10/05
125GP: Robbie Stewart, Honda, 1m 34.274s, 87.86mph, 09/04/07
Superstock: Mark Aitchison, Suzuki, 1m 29.317s, 92.73mph, 05/08.07
600 Superstock; Domenico Colucci, Ducati, 1m 31.501s, 90.50,ph, 04/07/07
Flashback
Bennetts British Superbike Championship Rd 1 – 9 April 2007:Pole: J Rea, Honda, 1m 25.235s
Race One - 20 laps1. G Lavilla - Ducati 28:56.903
2. L Camier - Honda 28:58.604
3. J Rea - Honda 29:01.479
Fastest lap: Lavilla, Ducati, 1:25.724, 96.63mph/155.51kph
Race Two - 21 laps1. G Lavilla - Ducati 31:09.132
2. J Rea - Honda 31:10.040
3. L Camier - Honda 31:11.235
Fastest lap: Rea, Honda, 1:25.755, 96.59mph/155.45kph
British Superbike Cup
Race One:1. J Buckingham - Honda 30:06.30
Race Two : 1. J Buckingham -Honda 31:44.050
Rider’s view“The Grand Prix circuit is unbelievable, a top course, one of the best to ride, exciting and it always makes for tough, but good racing – the atmosphere is always great there,” Leon Haslam, HM Plant Honda.
