BSB preview: Round Twelfth - Rockingham.

Former champions Steve Hislop and John Reynolds face an all new challenge as they continue their private duel for the British Superbike crown into the double race penultimate round at Rockingham Motor Speedway this Sunday 30 September.

Between them the two riders have won all of the 22 races so far in a dominant front-running campaign and as they go into the action at the tight, twisting 1.75mile Northamptonshire circuit, Hislop, the winner of 12 races to the ten of Reynolds, has the advantage by just 25 points.

Nottingham rider Reynolds, the winner of the crown in 1992, goes into the races knowing that he cannot afford to concede any further points to the 39-year-old Isle of Man-based Scot. The Red Bull Ducati rider has to go all-out for a couple of race victories and his determination is clear and underlined by his winning ride last time out at Mallory Park when he powered through the pain barrier to maintain his challenge.

Reynolds had suffered ankle ligament injuries in a crash during qualifying but he battled back brilliantly to keep in touch with Hislop, the winner of the second race aboard the MonsterMob Ducati. The winner of the 1995 title believes the real way to win the championship is by winning races and that tactic will again be the one used at Rockingham as he bids to increase the pressure on his rival.

For both Hislop and Reynolds the two races are a 'make or break' test in their efforts to regain the championship - both have practised at the circuit but both will be keen to dial-in their machines during the Friday testing prior to the all important Dunlop Superpole grid deciding session on Saturday afternoon - both riders recognise the importance of a front row start at this circuit.

The pressure however will be on them in both qualifying and the races. James Haydon in particular could head them both off, toward long overdue seasonal first victories - the Berkhamsted rider came close to achieving that last time out but crashed while leading. The Virgin Mobile Aiwa Yamaha rider is keen to make amends and is certain to be among the leading pack as are Paul Brown, aboard the Dienza Ducati; Michael Rutter riding Kawasaki and John Crawford on the Clarion Suzuki.

Sean Emmett, riding the second Red Bull Ducati, could also have a major say in the outcome of the races. He has proved to be fast and looking in top-form but could ride tactically to assist his team-mate Reynolds to rack-up points - Interesting times ahead!

In the Privateers Cup, Lincoln rider Lee Jackson will be looking to add to his two race wins to secure the runner-up spot to Shane Byrne, the Sittingbourne rider who has excelled aboard the Performance House Suzuki to already secure that crown.

Meanwhile, the chase for the British Supersport title is set for an exciting climax with four riders in the frame. Clarion Suzuki's Karl Harris, with a string of four victories in the last six rounds, has moved ahead of the Castrol Honda duo of Kirk McCarthy and John McGuinness, with Matt Llewellyn aboard the V&M Yamaha hot on the charge also.

Dave Jefferies, the winner of last Sunday's Scarborough Gold Cup for a fifth time, knows that nothing short of a winning ride aboard his V&M Yamaha will be enough to maintain his hopes of denying the British Superstock crown to Aussie Paul Young while teenage starlets Casey Stoner and Leon Camier continue their scrap for the 125cc title.

Adrian Coates has the upperhand in the 250cc title chase, but Shane Norval intends to peg back his 23 points lead, while in the Junior Superstocks Ben Wilson is looking for a seventh winning ride to celebrate his success in winning the crown.

Qualifying is throughout Saturday 29th September, between 9am and 6pm, with the race action concentrated onto Sunday 30th September, starting at 11:20am