Edwards, second in the championship, has never raced at Silverstone but the 28-year-old former world champion is hoping the circuit layout will benefit his SP-2 machine.

"From what I've seen of the circuit I should be in with a good chance of winning," Edwards reports. "There doesn't seem to be too many slow, stop-start corners, more sweeping, high speed bends.

"That style of circuit should be good for the SP-2. We've plenty of mid range and top end power and it looks like those are the ingredients needed at Silverstone."

Edwards is 38 points behind series leader Troy Bayliss as the pair have eased away at the head of the championship. Edwards adds: "It looks a bit of a two horse race at the moment but this is motorsport, anything can happen.

"A couple of weeks ago I would have expected Neil Hodgson to be a contender at Silverstone, which I still believe, but then he popped up at Monza and was battling for the race wins."

Edwards concluded: "Everyone keeps telling me I'm riding well enough so I'm pretty relaxed and have got the feeling that my time will come to win some races and start challenging Troy (Bayliss) for the championship lead."

Edwards is 55 points clear of the battle for third, a four-way tussle between the factory Ducatis of Ben Bostrom and Ruben Xaus, the factory Aprilia of Noriyuki Haga and GSE Ducati team rider Neil Hodgson.

The Silverstone wild card riders include Steve Hislop the veteran Scotsman took a shock pole position for the British round of the championship last year then held at Donington Park.

Victory for Honda's Fabien Foret in the last round of the World Supersport championship at Monza the fourth win of his career - has thrown the battle for the championship wide open.

Just five points now separate the top three riders as 1999 champion Stephane Chambon leads the way, by four points from Foret with defending champion Andrew Pitt one point behind the CBR600-riding Frenchman.

Foret commented: "Silverstone is new to every rider so I don't see that we will have any specific problems. I've heard the circuit is very fast that will suit the CBR600 machine."

Talented young Australian Chris Vermeulen is up to sixth in the championship on his van Zon Honda after the 19-year-old took his first pole position and his first podium finish, with second place, at Monza two weeks ago.

"I've raced at Silverstone before but only the national circuit," said Vermeulen. "I'm like every other rider out there, looking forward to the fast, sweeping corners around the back of the circuit that only Formula One cars have used before."