Having amassed experience in many forms of racing over the past three years, 2003 European Superstock Champion
Michel Fabrizio on his DFX Honda scored not just his first but a pair of podium finishes at Brno, setting himself up for two more strong showings at the rigorously-challenging
Brands Hatch circuit. His first two podiums since his move up from World Supersport were audacious in the extreme, proof that being partnered with the vastly experienced Pierfrancesco Chili is now paying dividends for Fabrizio and his entire Honda team.
After a breathtaking debut SBK season,
Lorenzo Lanzi on the Ducati Xerox has had to summon up every splinter of self-belief in 2006, and has occasionally approached the heights of his two wins in 2005. His pair of third places at Valencia were notable highlights, and Brands offers him two more chances to display his unquestioned abilities on the factory 999F06 Ducati.
Only two points separate the PSG-1 Kawasaki Corse pairing of
Fonsi Nieto and Chris Walker (in 10th and 11th places respectively) as Brands approaches, with third team-member
Regis Laconi (16th) having suffered greater misfortune in races, despite his obvious speed. Some brilliant qualifying and early race performances from each rider have yet to be turned into podium consistency, but at Brands, where Walker scored fourth place in race two last season, anything could be possible for the PSG-1 triumvirate. Kawasaki Bertocchi rider Josh Brookes is approaching Brands with the intention of scoring his first points since his move to Superbike from what was scheduled to be a rookie season in World Supersport.
The unique three-cylinder Malaysian Petronas FP-1, run from a British base by the Foggy Petronas Racing Team, will bow out from British track action in front of the same Brands Hatch banking that witnessed its first public track outing in 2002. Riders Steve Martin and SBK rookie Craig Jones will be out to make the race a memorable one for both team and fans, despite the machine's 100cc disadvantage to all other competing machinery.
