The MCE Insurance British Superbike Championship is back this weekend (19/20/21 June) and as the contenders head to Snetterton, Australian Josh Brookes is targeting his first win of the season after setting the fastest ever lap of the Norfolk circuit during the recent test.
Tens of thousands of fans are set to descend on the circuit and Brookes is full focused on turning his podium-finishing form into a victory with the next generation Milwaukee Yamaha. The Australian demolished the circuit record and has high hopes of holding off his rivals in Norfolk. There have already been four different race winners from the opening six races and the Milwaukee Yamaha team are determined to add Brookes to that list.
However championship leader James Ellison arrives full of confidence and with a marginal eight-point advantage over closest rival and defending Champion Shane ‘Shakey’ Byrne. Ellison and the JG Speedfit Kawasaki team have scored three of the six wins so far and are determined to carry that momentum into the fourth round.
Byrne meanwhile is ready to come out fighting to return to the top step of the podium; the record-breaking champion hasn’t scored a victory since the opening round in April and after a collision with Ryuichi Kiyonari last time out at Oulton Park, has his sights solely on victory to close the deficit to Ellison.
Kiyonari has endured a torrid start to his season and has failed to score a podium finish, but the Buildbase BMW rider has scored more victories at Snetterton than any of his rivals in previous years and knows he needs to return to the podium this weekend.
Stuart Easton and Tommy Bridewell both scored their first wins of 2015 at Oulton Park to move themselves into the top six in the standings ahead of this weekend and the pair will be pushing for more in their quest for all-important podium points ahead of the title-deciding Showdown later in the season.
Honda Racing return with their full line-up as Dan Linfoot is back on the grid alongside Jason O’Halloran and Jenny Tinmouth after recovering from a broken wrist he sustained at the second round of the season at Brands Hatch.
The local contenders will also have high hopes of a strong performance this weekend and MCE BSB rookies Luke Mossey, who hails from Cambridge and Essex’s Danny Buchan will be pushing hard for the Quattro Plant Teccare Kawasaki and Be Wiser Kawasaki teams respectively. The home teams also want to make an impression too as Norwich’s Morello Racing line up with former podium finisher Lee Costello and Danny Johnson and the RAF Reserves BMW team from nearby RAF Marham will be pushing for results with Peter Hickman.
The event will also feature a special appearance from Grand Prix legend Giacomo Agostini. The illustrious 15-times World Champion will be supporting Italian manufacturer MV Agusta’s campaign and attending an official ceremony to formally inaugurate the corner of the track named in his honour.
Raceday (Sunday) visitors will also be treated to a display from the 6 Regiment Army Air Corps and the Apache, the world’s most advanced multi-role combat helicopter. Spectators will have the opportunity to get up close to the magnificent aircraft before it later takes to the skies. |