Gregorio Lavilla will try to continue an unbeaten start to the Bennetts British Superbike Championship in the third round at
Silverstone this Sunday, but faces a stiff challenge from rivals new and old.
The 2005 champion has so far held off defending title holder, Ryuichi Kiyonari, and also an exciting pair of young 'home' riders, who have shown daring speed and confidence in the opening rounds.
Leon Camier, a former winner of both the British 125GP and Supersport titles, has settled into his debut Superbike season superbly, including a pair of closely fought second places aboard the Bike Animal Honda and those, together with a third place, have taken the 20 year-old Ashford rider into second place in the title stakes, albeit 33 points adrift of Lavilla.
Another highly talented 20 year-old, Jonathan Rea, is also in the frame for a determined bid for the crown - he is level pegging with his illustrious HM Plant Honda team-mate Kiyonari in third place in the standings. Both riders are determined to make the top step of the podium this weekend, with the Japanese rider having a strong pedigree at the Northamptonshire circuit.
Kiyonari made his Superbike debut at Silverstone three years ago, and last year enjoyed a winning double ahead of Lavilla in the penultimate round to keep his title hopes alive, while Rea, well on the pace, is bidding for maiden race winning glory in the top flight.
Lavilla knows all about their qualities, but focuses solely on his own job, working meticulously to ensure that his Ducati is set perfectly for the races as he takes on the strongest opposition in any domestic championship world-wide.
Shane 'Shakey' Byrne is just one of the many experienced riders he has to fend off - the former champion is looking good aboard the Stobart Vent-Axia Motorsport Honda, as is his young team-mate Tom Sykes who is making a strong impression on his graduation from Supersport racing. Sandwiched in between them in the standings is Lavilla's team-mate and 2006 title runner-up Leon Haslam who has struggled to transform his pre-season testing pace into race action.
Michael Rutter continues to race and develop the Isilon MSS Discovery Kawasaki while four times former runner-up Chris Walker will be looking for a strong performance aboard the Rizla Suzuki, with the team’s second rider, British Supersport Champion Cal Crutchlow also needing an upturn in fortune.
Tommy Hill, the pole starter in the second round at
Thruxton, is another rider eager to put his challenge firmly back on track, a factor not lost either on his Virgin Media Optoma Loans Yamaha team-mate James Haydon.
In the British Superbike Cup, the consistent points scoring Tom Tunstall will be aiming for a first victory aboard his Hardinge-Ice Valley Honda to hold onto the lead in the championship ahead of James Buckingham who should be back in action after a heavy crash in the previous race which was won by Marty Nutt.
In a busy supporting race programme, Relentless Suzuki by TAS rider Michael Laverty will be bidding for a third win in as many races in the Maxxis British Supersport Championship; Australian Glen Richards riding the Embassy Yamaha, expected again to be under pressure from Steve Brogan and Hudson Kennaugh, will be bidding to maintain his unbeaten start in the Metzeler Racetec National Superstock Championship while there is an ongoing three way struggle for supremacy in the British 125GP Championship between Ashley Beech, Kev Coghlan and Luke Mossey.
Adding to the busy schedule is the opening round of the all-new KTM 990 Super Duke Battle plus Metzeler Racetec National Superstock Cup action and the third round of the Virgin Media Cup.
