Currently, Bayliss' closest rival in the championship standings is Alstare Suzuki's Max Neukirchner, who enjoyed a relatively quiet Brands Hatch weekend that nonetheless consolidated his position in the overall standings.
However, he is under pressure from the 'other' Troy, this time Corser, who is becoming increasingly desperate to win some proper silverware aboard the Yamaha. Nonetheless, despite the lack of wins, Corser's consistency has still put him just ten points behind the Suzuki rider in the championship. A double podium winner last year, is this the weekend Corser finally breaks his Yamaha duck….?
Yamaha Italia's
Noriyuki Haga, a winner of one of the races last season, is also a strong bet for victory. The Japanese rider looked very competitive at Brands Hatch - save for his fall in the first race - and remains just 22 points off second place overall.
Similarly,
Carlos Checa is only 19 points off Neukirchner in fourth overall after a lacklustre weekend around one of the few circuits the Spaniard doesn't know. This time, however, the MotoGP-hosting
Donington Park is a familiar venue for the two-time winner, while he will be hoping to steal back some of the thunder taken by the younger, in-form Ken Kate Honda team-mate…
Outside the top five, things remain close, with the gaggle of riders have now expanded to six following Kiyonari's vault up the championship table. Currently,
Fonsi Nieto leads the way after a better performance at Brands Hatch than we have seen of late, while Max Biaggi will also be hoping the summer break hasn't disrupted his decent run of form.
Indeed, Corser wasn't the only double podium winner back in 2007 at Donington Park as Biaggi stood on the rostrum twice as well. The Italian was one of the stars at Brands Hatch after his charging ride in the first race, even if he did undo most of that good work with a fall in the second.
He is seventh in the championship at the moment, with Kiyonari eighth, while
Michel Fabrizio and
Ruben Xaus, who is fit again after picking up the flu at
Brands Hatch, complete the top ten.
