Cadwell Park - Preview.

Following their sole jaunt north of the border to Scotland, the Bennetts British Superbike Championship heads back to England for the latest round of the season at Cadwell Park.

A classic circuit by biking standards, Cadwell Park is one of the best loved venues on the calendar with its mix of challenging curves and fast straights, not to mention possibly the most feared and loved feature of all, the hallowed 'Mountain'.

A chance for riders to do a little bit of showboating to the fans, not to mention the legion of photographers that will no doubt line up to get the best mid-air shot, it will be the highlight of a Bank Holiday weekend that promises to provide close racing.

Indeed, although there remains little doubt that Shane Byrne is still in charge of the overall standings, the series has closed up a bit of late, with Leon Haslam becoming the sixth different winner this season at Knockhill.

Still, Byrne could have moved to within almost touching distance at Knockhill had he not hit an errant patch of oil at the end of the main straight, causing him to slide off at high speed and create a few sharp intakes of breath around the circuit when he clattered into the air wall.

Nonetheless, other than a few bruises, the only thing Byrne really hurt was his comprehensive title advantage, although with 110 points in the bag with only eight races remaining, it really is his to lose now.

If Byrne is almost certain of the title, attention will no doubt turn to the fight for second place instead where Cal Crutchlow's once comfortable advantage has been eroded by the in-form Sykes.

Crutchlow had a dismal Knockhill weekend, retiring after a fall in the first race before being forced to fight up from the back of the grid when the wrong tyres were fitted to his HM Plant Honda. Sykes, on the other hand, scored his third consecutive win in Scotland and then added a fourth place to that to move within eight points of his friend and rival.

Both riders went well at Cadwell Park last year, albeit on different bikes to the ones they'll be tackling the circuit on this year, so it is anyone's guess as to who will emerge from the weekend in the provisional runners-up spot.

Haslam improved his stock with a first win on the Honda at Knockhill, but remains on the fringes of the second place battle. Still, he has a good record at Cadwell Park meaning that 15 point gap to Sykes won't seem impossible to bridge...

Leon Camier, meanwhile, goes to Cadwell Park with plenty to prove, not only to the team, but to himself. Perhaps most importantly, Camier needs to bounce back from a disappointing weekend at Knockhill, one that saw him battling at the lower end of the top ten. Secondly though, Camier will need to show mental strength on his return to the scene of his horrific crash last year, one that put him out of action for the remainder of the 2007 season.

A good result is vital too as his Oulton Park withdrawal leaves him clinging onto fifth in the standings, just ahead of James Ellison and Michael Rutter, both of whom starred at Knockhill as more fancied riders floundered. Podiums for each rider mean they head to Cadwell Park two and five points off Camier.

Behind the top seven, there is a widening gap back to Michael Laverty on the Relentless Suzuki. The Northern Irishman qualified well at Knockhill but suffered in the changeable conditions. By contrast, Simon Andrews starred with a pair of top ten results from 18th on the grid, a remarkable achievement on a weekend spent struggling with an injured leg and hand. While he is not close to full fitness yet, Andrews will certainly be a fan favourite this weekend.

Others to look out for will be Tristan Palmer, especially if it rains, the gradually improving Billy McConnell and Karl Harris, the latter rider finally receiving some good news by climbing onto the podium at Knockhill. Potentially the spur for a good end to a terrible season, expect Harris to revel in Cadwell's challenge.

Elsewhere, John Laverty is expected to return to the Daily Star Cup after breaking a rib at Knockhill, although he can arguably afford not to such is his lead in the standings. Gary Mason remains his closest competitor in terms of speed, but Chris Burns and Martin Jessopp performed well at Knockhill too to keep Mason's charge up the leaderboard in check.

As well as the usual thrills and spills on race day, to be held on the Monday, there will also be plenty for fans to look forward to in qualifying as this round debuts the new knockout style format.

Intended to spice the racing up, it remains to be seen whether or not it will shake up the grids come race day, but it will certainly give qualifying a new and intriguing dimension for the first time in several years...