The heat is on in the chase for the Bennetts British Superbike crown. As the action returns to Oulton Park, in Cheshire, on Sunday 11 September, three riders know that nothing short of victories will suffice if they are to maintain their hopes of taking the country's premier title.
Gregorio Lavilla heads the pack. The Airwaves Ducati rider grabbed the initiative in the previous round at Cadwell Park, taking a pair of second places to leapfrog above the HM Plant Honda duo of Michael Rutter and Ryuichi Kiyonari who both had disappointing times at their team¹s local circuit.
The dramatic Holiday Monday action turned the title race on its head, with Lavilla, who started the season as a rider replacement for the then injured James Haydon in the Ducati team, taking full advantage. The Spaniard has brought a cultured riding style to the series, and underlined his great skill by rapidly learning the demanding Cadwell Park circuit to take positive results.
He now feels he is a good position. "I know and like the circuits that host the final three rounds so am feeling good about racing on them and hope to be able to score points," said Lavilla as he prepares to extend the slender two points advantage he has over Rutter.
The Leicestershire based rider, who took a tumble for the second time in as many rounds in the previous round, has to come on strong, re-building his confidence and going for straight victories. Rutter has been close to the crown on four occasions and is determined that this will be his year, but, a 46 point lead has been overturned, and now the pressure is really on him.
He cannot count on any tactical riding either from his teamster Kiyonari, who, placed a further seven points adrift, has a great chance of becoming the first ever Japanese rider to win the title. The exciting 22-year-old has won more races (ten) than anyone else this season but has lacked consistency which leaves him playing catch-up.
They will each have their own game-plan for tackling the races, but at the back of each of their minds is the simple philosophy that they cannot be beaten by either of their rivals, not that they are the only riders capable of winning.
Tommy Hill goes into the action brimming with confidence after enjoying his first ever victory in the championship at Cadwell Park, and also giving the Virgin Mobile Samsung Yamaha team their first victory in 14 months, while Leon Haslam, also a winner there has shown there are no team orders at Airwaves.
Haslam tried to snatch victory in the opener from Lavilla with a daring last lap move that saw both riders run wide onto the grass, and then in the second race he held off the close attentions of the Spaniard.
