Reigning Bennetts British Superbike Champion Gregorio Lavilla takes a slender three-point advantage over Ryuichi Kiyonari into the double race second round at Donington Park on Sunday 9 April.

The Spaniard took a major step towards the title with wins in both races of the penultimate round at the Leicestershire grand prix circuit last year, but the Airwaves Ducati rider is well aware that Kiyonari also enjoyed a winning double there in the previous season.

Both riders are brimming with confidence - having taken a win a piece in the opening action - as they settle to the challenges of the new season. Both have excelled in testing, to suggest that they are ready for a classic showdown in these races which could have a crucial part to play in the outcome of the title.

Lavilla, in his second year, and Kiyonari, back with the HM Plant Honda team for a third term, both know the circuits well, and that should intensify the duelling, although the series is far from a two rider scrap for supremacy.

Karl Harris, the former triple British Supersport Champion, has settled quickly into the factory backed Honda team, and is overdue a success in the elite class – the Sheffield rider is up to speed, and has a hard charging style that has put him into the front-running pack.

That is also the case with local hero Leon Haslam. He cut his racing teeth at Donington Park, winning a Honda CB500 Cup race at 14 years old in a British Grand Prix support event, and with the Airwaves Ducati team has a proven winning pedigree. He is sore from a heavy crash in the Brands Hatch opener, but showed his bravery and determination by bouncing back to take second place next time out.

Haslam is up for a title bid, as is Michael Rutter riding the Stobart Motorsport Honda - the Leicestershire based rider finished third in the title stakes last term and already has taken a top three finish. He too has a strong Donington pedigree, having enjoyed his maiden Superbike race victory there, and is driven now by a desire to beat his former factory Honda team.

Shane Byrne, the former champion back in the domestic series after two tough years in MotoGP, has carried out more work on his Rizla Suzuki, and along with his team-mate James Haydon, is looking to build on his strong performances in the opening round.

They are playing catch-up in terms of machine development, but have the resources of former champions Niall Mackenzie and John Reynolds in their back-room to help their efforts, and that should have them well up to speed for these races.