British SuperBike Championship - Round 6 - Thruxton

Flying-Scot Steve Hislop heads the title chase as the British Superbike Championship powers into Thruxton circuit for the double-race sixth round on Sunday, 1 July the MonsterMob Ducati rider is the man in form having hit double-top in each of the last two rounds to open up a 13-point advantage over John Reynolds.

That scorching form has put Hislop into the driving seat for the crown he last won back in 1995 and has relegated another former champion Reynolds to second place on the leader-board. The Red Bull Ducati was knocked off the top by a combination of Hislop's blistering pace and also a rare machine problem last time out at Brands Hatch. You can again catch the Brands Hatch action, in what is sure to be compulsive, thrill-packed viewing by tuning to the BBC's Sunday Grandstand, this coming Sunday (June 24) between 1335 - 1415 hrs.

Reynolds is eager to snap back into the early season form that saw him win five of the first eight races and charges onto the ultra-fast Hampshire circuit eager to make amends:

"I was totally gutted at being forced out of the second race at Brands Hatch and am determined that the mid-season blip of last season, which probably cost me the title, is not repeated.

Steve is undoubtedly a major threat he is riding very well, and in the first race at Brands I broke the lap record but still could not beat him. The way he is riding, Steve is probably the fastest man in the world at the moment."

Hislop's pace in the last two rounds has been breathtaking, with the former eleven times Isle of Man TT race winner enjoying the campaign: "The MonsterMob team is a big one, but it is still a fun one. I am really enjoying myself and that is why I am on a roll at the moment. I have just to crack-on and keep winning races. There is a long way to go still in the championship but I would love to win the title everyone wants to be Number One, and I am not getting any younger so I am all the more
determined."

The two races however will be more than a showdown between the leading duo in the title stakes between them, they have shared the victories in all ten races so far, but there are other riders long overdue success, among them James Haydon, riding the Virgin Mobile Aiwa Yamaha.

The Berkhamsted rider has had a tough time, with his season punctuated by crashes, but he has still managed half-a-dozen top three positions with some hard-charging rides. Haydon goes well at Thruxton and is keen to enjoy an action replay of last year's victory he needs it, to kick-start his title challenge.

Clarion Suzuki's John Crawford should also be a force to be reckoned with, while the re-emerging force of the works Kawasaki riders should ensure some lively up-front duelling. Steve Plater forced his way onto the podium in his come-back race last time out, after a two month lay-off through injury, while Michael Rutter, a former Isle of Man TT winner, took a strong second
place.

Paul Brown, riding Dienza Ducati, and Sean Emmett, aboard the second Red Bull Ducati should also figure in the front-running pack, while Shane Byrne, the leader in the Privateers Cup, having won each of the ten races so far, intends to further embarrass the works riders by outscoring them.

For David Jefferies, the Thruxton circuit may not be as well suited to his V&M Racing R1 Yamaha, and some of his close championship rivals on their more powerful Suzuki's could well have an advantage on the faster sections of the course. Where Jefferies will gain though is on machine setup, having raced an R1 Yamaha around the 2.3-mile circuit on several occasions during the last two seasons.

"It's no secret we're down on straight line speed, compared to some of the Suzuki's," he said, "but the V&M bike is a well sorted package, and hopefully we'll not be at too much of a disadvantage. I don't think a podium place is out of the question, because not all the Suzuki's will be perfectly set up for the circuit. It was resurfaced recently, but there are still one or two bumpy sections that can catch you out."

Around the two Superbike races, in a packed programme, the chase for five other British Championships continues. Adrian Coates defends a narrow seven points advantage ahead of former Grand Prix rider Shane Norval in the 250cc championship, with Darren Barton, the winner of the last two rounds closing in on them.

Aussie ace Paul Young will be looking to make it a case of 'six of the best' as he bids to continue his total domination of the British Superstock Championship and his compatriot Kirk McCarthy, a top three finisher in each of the five Supersport races so far including two victories, looks good to continue his good form at the expense of his Castrol Honda team-mate John McGuinness, the winner last time out.

“Brands was good for me,” said 27-year-old McGuinness, “because although I’ve consistently been one of the quickest in qualifying this year it hadn’t been translated into the success I want. Winning my first Supersport race felt fantastic and I’m looking forward to repeating the experience.”

With two wins to his credit this year, McCarthy leads his Castrol Honda team-mate in the series by 25 points and the Australian rider will be drawing on all his world and British championship experience to secure the British Supersport title after finishing as runner-up in 2000.

“Last year was my first full British championship,” said McCarthy, 31, “but I managed to win at Thruxton although I’d never been there before. The Honda and Dunlop package is even stronger this season so I’ll be looking to repeat that victory.”

Leicester rider Matt Llewellyn currently holds third place in the British Supersport 600 class, and after a disappointing result at Brands is looking to make amends around the fast Thruxton circuit, where even the Supersport 600 machine's lap at over 106mph.

"I can't wait to get to Thruxton," said Llewellyn. "The high speed circuit should be perfect for the V&M Racing R6 Yamaha. It was a bit of a lottery at the last round at Brands, with everyone gambling on what tyres to use. Hopefully we can get a dry weekend at Thruxton, and I can show what we're really capable of."

Casey Stoner, with four wins in as many starts, heads the title chase in the British 125cc Championship with Ulsterman Paul Robinson, his nearest rival, needing to finish ahead of him at Thruxton, while Ben Wilson, Matt Layt and Declan Swanton continue their power-struggle for glory in the new British Junior Superstock series.

Noise restrictions at Thruxton prevent any free practice on Friday but two qualifying sessions on Saturday will determine the final grid positions for Sunday’s 18-lap sixth round race.

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