Sykes and Haslam Gunning for Glory

Bennetts British Superbike Championship
ROUND NINE – 23/24/25 AUGUST – CADWELL PARK

Fresh from their Scottish victories, Tom Sykes and Leon Haslam are eager for more of the same as the chase for the Bennetts British Superbike crown moves into the final third of the campaign at Cadwell Park over the Bank Holiday weekend.

The man they have to beat is former champion Shane Byrne who has amassed a 110 points lead in the title stakes – the Airwaves Ducati rider has recovered from the bruising he took in a heavy tumble at Knockhill and is promising to show what might have been in that race.

Byrne has won eight races so far, not finishing off the podium until that crash last time out, but he is taking nothing for granted as the young-guns of the series make determined challenges.

Sykes, riding Rizla Suzuki, has won three of the last four races and is full of confidence as he prepares for the races at the Lincolnshire circuit: "I’m looking forward to getting going there and I want similar results to those I took at Oulton Park when I did the double.
"I have high expectations for these races and need to keep producing the results to close this championship down. Cadwell is a rider’s circuit, tight, twisting and narrow but it is one that I enjoy riding."

The Huddersfield rider is currently third in the rankings, with his immediate target to move ahead of Cal Crutchlow who is currently eight points better off, but on the home circuit of his HM Plant Honda team expecting to taste the winner’s champagne for the first time since Brands Hatch back in May when he took his second victory of the season.

His team-mate, Haslam, however could have a big say in that. He is fourth in the standings and demanding better of himself, and, having taken his first win of the current term last time out is ready for more of the same.

"Winning that one was something of a relief, now I can concentrate on more," said Haslam. "This is one of my favourite circuits quite simply because I have won every time that I have raced there. It is unique in the sporting world with the Mountain section and it is very hard to master."
Immediately below the top four, there are three riders parted by only five points. Leon Camier aboard the second Airwaves Ducati; James Ellison who, riding the Hydrex Bike Animal Honda, is the only rider to have scored points in every round; and Michael Rutter, the Mallory Park winner for North West 200 Ducati.

They should be at the sharp-end of the action with Michael Laverty on the Relentless Suzuki together with Karl Harris aboard the Rob Mac Racing Yamaha, Simon Andrews riding Lloyds British Jentin Yamaha; Tristan Palmer on the Tena for Men Honda and MSS Discovery Kawasaki rider Billy McConnell keen for a slice of the action.

John Laverty resumes his chase for the Daily Star Cup having recovered from his Knockhill spill but he will be under pressure from Gary Mason, Martin Jessopp and Chris Burns in this race within a race for independent teams and riders.

The two Superbike races are on Monday afternoon, but the new look Swan Combi 50 Roll for Pole grid deciding session, being used for the first time on Sunday afternoon, with its F1 style shoot-out for positions is set to provide fast and frantic action.

All riders will run in the opening 25 minutes, with riders occupying positions 21 and above eliminated to form rows six and beyond. The remaining 20 riders will then have a 15 minute session at the end of which the slowest ten will be eliminate. The remaining ten riders will then have a ten minute session to decide who takes pole.

The promise of this new scheme is electrifying action to decide the all important starting slots on the grid ahead of the race action which could see Byrne under increasing pressure in the front-running pack.