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.
Also riding Suzuki are the Vivaldi trio of Scott Smart, Ben Wilson and Ollie Bridewell, while the locally prepared Hawk Kawasakis are looking strong. Dean Thomas caught the eye in the opening round and will be building on that performance, as will his fellow Aussie Craig Coxhell - another young Australian rider, Billy McConnell is capable of springing a surprise. The winner of the Virgin Mobile Cup last term, he has graduated well into the Yamaha team alongside Tommy Hill and Kieran Clarke.
In the British Superbike Cup, the defending champion James Buckingham will be looking to hit back strongly after machine problems sidelined him in the opening round, leaving him to make up ground on Marty Nutt and Chris Martin who shared the opening round successes.
But before the racing begins, expect to see electrifying action from all of the Superbike riders in their 50 minute timed qualifying session on Saturday afternoon – this not only decides the grid positions for both races, but also counts towards the outcome of the Audi Performance Award. This rewards consistent speed, over the season, in qualifying with a £50,000 limited Audi Cabriolet.
And, for good measure on Sunday afternoon, there are rounds of the British Supersport Cup, the Metezeler National Racetec Supersport Championship and Cup, the British 125GP Championship, the Virgin Mobile Cup, and a special Steve Webster International Sidecar race that will feature the defending World Champions Tim and Tristan Reeves.
