Buckingham - the one to watch?

James Buckingham impressed everyone with his superb podium finish at Castle Combe on board the Rizla Suzuki. It was his first time out on a full blown Superbike and he got the result needed to make everyone take heed. He is now back on his privateer Suzuki, leading the BSB Cup and outpacing a lot of BSB regulars. Indeed, during free practice at Cadwell Park for the tenth round of the Bennetts British Superbike Championship, he was consistently in the top ten and finished in eleventh.

Speaking exclusively to Crash.net, Buckingham admitted he has been going well but isn't sure why: "I haven't been here testing at all and I got a lot of laps in and with in two hours I'm down to lap record pace near enough from last year. Hopefully I can go faster tomorrow (Sunday) on a race tyre and then put a qualifier in and try and get on the front two rows, so I can give it my best shot in the race. Don't know if the bike is capable of running with the top boys but we'll soon find out"

Most privateers are out to impress and to score Superbike points, as opposed to Cup points, however Buckingham has a different agenda, "I want to do the best I can and try and get a job for next year, that is my main aim. I think a lot of people are seeing what we are doing, with the budget we've got and the bike. They know with a better bike and the right equipment I can do the job, but we shall see," said Buckingham.

The talented young rider is yet to be inundated with offers for next season: "I haven't had any offers, no! Hopefully there will be a few coming. I'd like to think that I've done enough to get some offers and hopefully it will be the right ones so that I can move forward but we will have to see." It is looking good for this weekend even though he isn't keen on the circuit, "I don't really like it, I think it's dangerous but it's the same for everyone I suppose. Just not got to think about it and get on with the riding. I crashed here last year quite bad, so I'll try and put that to the back of my mind and go as fast as I can."

Buckingham is keen to make people take notice of his talent - and feels he can pull out all the stops in qualifying today (Sunday). "My bike seems to be good, and I think I can go faster tomorrow and beat as many of the regulars as I can," he concluded.

The current paddock rumour is, Buckingham to Rizla Suzuki...watch this space.