PRESSURE BUILDS FOR FIRST BSB RACE OF THE SEASON

BENNETTS BRITISH SUPERBIKE CHAMPIONSHIP, ROUND TWO, THRUXTON - 18/19/20 APRIL

The tension is mounting as the 2008 Bennetts British Superbike Championship is, at last, just days away from the opening races of the season at Thruxton - the fastest circuit on the calendar.

Shane Byrne on the Airwaves Ducati arrives at the second round knowing that he was the fastest rider at the Brands Hatch season opener, where he claimed pole position before the event was postponed and rescheduled due to extensive snowfalls.

Byrne said: “I’m feeling comfortable in the team, which is one of the best in the paddock and the bike was good straight out of the box. It was a bit of an unknown in terms of outright speed until we arrived at Brands Hatch with everyone else. I am excited about Thruxton now we know what we are capable of on the Ducati 1098R’s.”

HM Plant Honda’s Leon Haslam is another early title favourite, having finished runner-up last season, but the Derbyshire ace is determined that he will not be beaten to the crown this season.

Haslam said: “I am going to be up there. Having just missed out on the title twice, having taken the battle to the final round, I see this as a must win year. I know that Shakey Byrne will be hard to beat, but if I am to win the title, then I want to have earned it by beating the best.”

The Rizla Suzuki team count Thruxton as their home round, and with 2007 ‘Rookie of the Year’ Tom Sykes joined by double Japanese Superbike Champion Atsushi Watanabe, the Dorset-based squad will be wanting to give their fans something to cheer about.

Sykes said: “Thruxton is a circuit I really enjoy as it is fast and flowing. It is very abrasive so it has good grip but is hard on tyres. To string together a good lap you need to make sure once you are through the first turn that you make the following corners flow together. I try to be pin point accurate and very smooth. I’m really looking forward to it as it produces good racing. It is my team’s home round so I will be trying my hardest - I’ll give it 110 per cent.”

For further information throughout the weekend visit www.britishsuperbike.com

Bennetts British Superbike Championship on track:

Friday 18 April - Free Practice
Saturday 19 April - Qualifying
Sunday 20 April - Race

Bennetts British Superbike Championship on TV:

Sun 20 April - British Eurosport 2 (Sky 411, Virgin Media 525)
1230-1630 LIVE raceday
1930-2100 Highlights

Mon 21 April - British Eurosport 2
1300-1400 Highlights

Tue 22 April - British Eurosport 2
2030-2200 Highlights

Thu 24 April - British Eurosport 2
1900-2000 Bennetts British Superbikes Extra

Sat 26 April - British Eurosport 2
1615-1715 Highlights

Thu 01 May - British Eurosport 2
2030-2200 Highlights

Fri 02 May - British Eurosport 2
1300-1430 Highlights

Sat 03 May - British Eurosport 2
2130-2300 Highlights

Sun 04 May - British Eurosport 2
1845-2145 Highlights

Wed 23 April - Channel 4
0110- 0200 Highlights