BSB heads to Cadwell Park as showdown looms
The MCE Insurance British Superbike Championship heads to Cadwell Park in Lincolnshire this August Bank Holiday weekend (23/24/25) with the battle for the Showdown positions intensifying with just four races remaining before the all-important Showdown.
Triple champion Shane ‘Shakey’ Byrne and Australian Josh Brookes already have their position confirmed to fight for the title in the Showdown and the pair have been locked in their battle for the victories this season. Byrne holds the advantage, but hasn’t won any of the last seven races since Knockhill in June, something he is eager to turn around this weekend.
Byrne said: “I’m really looking forward to the upcoming races. We’re working really hard as a team to improve our package as there has certainly been some big improvements from some of our competitors. I’m going to be trying as hard as ever to reward my guys’ hard work with a good few more trips to the top of the podium – that’s the plan anyway!”
Brookes is renowned for his high-flying leaps over the famous Mountain section and after scoring a victory last time out at Oulton Park the Milwaukee Yamaha rider is determined to carry the momentum into this weekend’s event.
Brookes said: “I remember last year at Cadwell Park having some really good, close battles with Alex (Lowes) as he was on good form. I seem to remember that event as one of best of the year in terms of having a strong race and speed. I am hoping that it is a track thing and if you focus on the circuit I think the Yamaha could be super fast there.
“We have seen it in the past that the Yamaha has been strong with Tommy (Hill), Michael (Laverty) and Leon (Camier) all having good results – it should be a track that it is well suited to. I am hoping that the two things combined will make for some good races and we can continue to push for the best results possible.”
Buildbase BMW’s Ryuichi Kiyonari has reasserted his authority this year, claiming his fourth victory of the season last time out at Oulton Park, and the triple champion counts Cadwell Park as his home circuit. The “War for Four” title battle with Byrne continues to rage and Kiyo is bidding to add his name this weekend to the confirmed Title Fighters ahead of the Showdown.
Kiyonari said: “I really like Cadwell Park, because since I have lived in the UK it has been my home circuit and so I always want to have a good result there. My confidence is really high, we have worked hard and we have shown we can be fast at every round. We want to be winning but if you stop pushing for one moment then someone like Shakey, Josh or another rider will beat you. I am going to Cadwell Park to try and win again.”
The final places in the Showdown remain fiercely contested and this weekend at Cadwell Park will prove critical to the chasing pack’s title aspirations. Quattro Plant Kawasaki’s Dan Linfoot scored a debut podium finish last time out and he currently holds fourth place in the standings but just 32 points currently separate him from James Ellison in seventh, with the pair split by Tommy Bridewell and Chris Walker.
Championship standings: British Superbike
- Shane Byrne (Rapid Solicitors Kawasaki) 313
- Josh Brookes (Milwaukee Yamaha) 244
- Ryuichi Kiyonari (Buildbase BMW) 202
- Dan Linfoot (Quattro Plant Kawasaki) 156
- Tommy Bridewell (Milwaukee Yamaha) 142
- Chris Walker (Lloyds British GBmoto Racing Kawasaki) 136
British Supersport
Four points is all that separates the leading three riders in the Motorpoint British Supersport Championship ahead of this weekend’s Cadwell Park August Bank Holiday round (23/24/25).
Smiths Racing Triumph’s Graeme Gowland heads the pack after maintaining his one point advantage over his Aussie team-mate Billy McConnell last time out at Oulton Park. Both, however, are rapidly being hunted down by Martrain Yamaha’s Alastair Seeley, who closed to within four points of Gowland after a victory at the previous round.
Luke Jones narrowly missed out on the podium at Oulton Park earlier this month, with a fourth place, and will be aiming for his first win of the season to add to his four podium finishes. Luke Stapleford and Luke Mossey have celebrated podiums already and will be pushing to close the deficit further this weekend. Jake Dixon, Taylor Mackenzie and James Rispoli are all heading to Cadwell Park with aspirations of a debut podium finish.
In the Evo title race, Alex Olsen will be pushing to extend his advantage at the top of the standings, whilst Tim Hastings and Grant Whita
British Supersport Championship standings
- Graeme Gowland (Smiths Triumph) 228
- Billy McConnell (Smiths Triumph) 227
- Alastair Seeley (Martrain Yamaha) 224
- Luke Jones (Acumen Industrial Service Triumph) 175
- Glenn Irwin (Gearlink Kawasaki) 158
Images from previous round at Oulton Park
