The MCE Insurance British Superbike Championship contenders will hit top speeds of around 195mph this weekend (1/2/3 August) as the action at the high-speed Thruxton circuit in Hampshire for the sixth round of the season.

Leading the high-speed duel for title supremacy is Shane ‘Shakey’ Byrne. The triple champion narrowly missed out on victory at Brands Hatch two weeks ago to a fighting Ryuichi Kiyonari and both are heading to Hampshire with the focus of adding to their winning tally in the quest to take a record-breaking fourth title.

Byrne said:

“Thruxton is an important round and one where we can see if the improvements we have made since Brands Hatch have paid off. I personally like the circuit and I think we will see that nobody will get away there. Thruxton is a case where, if there is a pack, then the race will be decided on the last lap. You get a bit of a run out of Church and then everyone gets a bit of a beating up at the chicane. That said, you only need to be in striking distance at Church and then you can have a good go! I certainly hope that we can come away with another win or two, that’s not being greedy that is just the target.”

Kiyonari said:

“Thruxton is all about going fast and I like that. I think that this circuit should be another good one for the BMW, the bikes are very equal in the championship but this one should be good for us. I have lots of confidence and we have been improving all the time and that shows we are ready to try and win at every round. I like the circuit a lot so I want to have good results again. I want to win – if I didn’t think I could then I wouldn’t be going this year!”

Josh Brookes rates Thruxton as one of his favourite circuits on the calendar and the Milwaukee Yamaha rider knows that he needs to return to podium-finishing form to cement an early place in the Showdown. The Australian and his team-mate Tommy Bridewell return to Britain fresh from competing in the Suzuka Eight Hour race in Japan, with Thruxton the home round for Devizes-based Bridewell who will be hunting to add to his single podium finish so far this season at his local round.

Chris Walker flies the flag for the Lloyds British GBmoto Racing Kawasaki team this weekend with James Ellison recovering from injury; the Nottinghamshire rider currently holds the final place in the top six in the overall standings ahead of the chasing pack.

Thruxton also marks the home round for the Quattro Plant Bournemouth Kawasaki team and Dan Linfoot will be pushing to move back inside the top six again. However Stuart Easton and Richard Cooper are closing in and the Tyco Suzuki pairing of John Hopkins and Brands Hatch race winner Josh Waters are also set to upset the order.


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