Shane Byrne expects to move closer to the Bennetts British Superbike crown in the tenth round at Croft this weekend but the Airwaves Ducati rider is being promised a tough time by Tom Sykes and Cal Crutchlow who go into the action at the North Yorkshire circuit buoyed by their world class form of last Sunday. Then, Sykes led the opening World Superbike race at Donington Park but the Rizla Suzuki rider had to settle for second best to the twice champion Troy Bayliss while Crutchlow, aboard the HM Plant Honda, ran former twice British champion Ryuichi Kiyonari a close second next time out. “I’ve taken a podium at World level, we’ve gained some valuable wet settings and I’m now looking forward to Croft where I want to add to my three victories in the British Championship,” said Sykes. “Riding in the World Superbikes at Brands and Donington has been a brilliant experience and I will be using that to the full.” Crutchlow is also intent on building on his strong performance that impressed the World Superbike regulars: “I was confident that I could catch Kiyo, but the conditions were not good and in the end decided that discretion is the better part of valour and took second, but now I want more strong results starting at Croft.” Together with Leon Haslam, who also showed well in the World series action at Donington Park, Sykes and Crutchlow are scrapping currently for the runner-up spot in the title chase with Byrne. The champion of 2003 is running 110 points clear at the head of the rankings, thanks to a strong run of form in the first half of the season in which he won eight races. Byrne has not tasted the winner’s champagne since victory at Mallory Park back in June, but consistency is the keyword of his season, with only one blemish, a tumble at Knockhill. That apart, he has finished every race in the top three and that record has put the title comfortably within his reach and two top two finishes in this round could see him crowned champion. “I know I can’t afford to drop more than ten points to Sykes so first up we are going to have to work hard to get to the front and then think about wrapping up the championship after that,” explained Byrne. “Winning the championship at Croft is a possibility, and that would be fantastic. “However Croft is not a favourite circuit of mine but I don’t dislike it either; it has not been particularly kind to me in the past but hopefully my luck might change there this year.” Byrne’s team-mate Leon Camier will also be at the sharp end of the action, with Karl Harris also intent on a strong run aboard the Rob Mac Racing Yamaha. Stuart Easton and Billy McConnell are keen to make a big impact on the race with Michael Rutter chasing a second victory of the campaign aboard the North West 200 Ducati. John Laverty expects to move closer to overall Daily Star Cup glory aboard the Buildbase NW200 Ducati but will be under pressure from Quay Garage Honda’s Gary Mason, Tom Tunstall on the Hardinge Ice Valley Honda and Martin Jessopp aboard the Riders Honda. Around the two Superbike races there is action counting to the Fuchs-Silkolene British Supersport Championship, Metzeler National Superstock 600 and 1000 Championships, Relentless British 125GP Championship and the Henderson Yamaha R1 Cup. More, from a press release issued by Cartersport: BRITISH SUPERBIKE CHAMPIONSHIP SET TO BE DECIDED AT CROFT Round ten of the popular 2008 Bennetts British Superbike Championship arrives in the race-starved North East where the championship could be decided at Croft Circuit near Darlington this weekend (12/14 September). Following the last round at Cadwell Park over the August bank holiday weekend, Shane ‘Shakey’ Byrne continued his dominance in this year’s title chase aboard his Airwaves Ducati and as a result, the Zurich-based Londoner enjoys a healthy 110 point lead over his nearest rival Tom Sykes (Rizla Suzuki). Yorkshireman Sykes, who gained his first ever BSB podium at Croft last year, is on a hot run of form after a triple victory in recent races and also gaining a World Superbike Championship podium placing at Donington yesterday. He knows nothing less than a double victory around the 2.125 mile North Yorkshire circuit will maintain his slim hopes of reeling Byrne in and is confident, especially as Shakey hasn’t won a race in the past seven outings. For Byrne, the mathematics are simple and a double victory at Croft would seal him his second British Superbike Championship title to add to the one he won in 2003. But the former MotoGP rider knows that anything can, and possibly will, play a part in the destiny of the title in a season which has been badly affected by the weather so will be taking nothing for granted. Chasing them down will be Airwaves Ducati’s Leon Camier as well as the two factory-supported HM Plant Honda riders in the shape of Donington WSB podium finisher Cal Crutchlow and Cadwell Park double winner Leon Haslam whereas Michael Rutter (NW200 Ducati), Japanese champion Atsushi Watanabe (Rizla Suzuki), Scott Smart (Hawk Kawasaki) and Karl Harris (RM Yamaha) will all have aspirations of victory, as will former Croft winner Stuart Easton (MSS Discovery Kawasaki). A team with local connections is the Teesside-based Hydrex Bike Animal Honda team run by Guisborough’s Shaun Muir and with riders James Ellison and Guy Martin on board the Fireblades; they will be looking to add more silverware to what has been a reasonably successful season to date. Ellison, from Kendal in the nearby Lake District was a revelation at Donington Park for the World Superbike meeting, coming home in fourth place. As well as the BSB crown, it is also possible that another couple of titles could be decided with Ulsterman John Laverty (Buildbase Ducati) on the brink of claiming the BSB Daily Star Cup for privateers and Scouser Steve Brogan could land the Metzeler National Superstock 1000 Championship aboard his Honda UK-supported Fireblade. In addition to the two, twenty lap feature races, a full support race programme is included during the weekend. Bradford rider Matthew Hoyle leads the Relentless 125cc class but will be absent from Croft as he is racing at the US Grand Prix at Indianapolis which will allow the chasing pack to close up. Australian Glen Richards comfortably leads the Fuchs Silkolene British Supersport Championship aboard his MAP Embassy Triumph with Ulsterman Lee Johnston doing likewise in the Metzeler National Superstock 600 series, whereas Derbyshire rider Jon Kirkham is in charge in the Henderson Yamaha R1 Cup. Local interest in the support classes will centre on Hartburn’s Jamie Ferguson in the 125cc class and Middlesbrough rider Paul Veazey in the Supersport class whereas Newcastle brothers Chris and Joe Burns will be in action in the British Superbike and National 600 classes respectively. Saturday’s action commences at 09.30 and sees the all-important qualifying sessions, including the new and exciting F1-style Swan Combi 50 qualifying session to set the grid for Sunday’s two superbike races at 14.25, with the first of the weekend’s seven races takes place with the Metzeler National Superstock 600 Championship race over 15 laps at 15.40. Due to stringent noise restrictions and to comply with local authority regulations, the action cannot commence until after 12.00 noon on Sunday whereby the action kicks off with the warm up sessions before the first race is scheduled to start at 13.15. However, during the morning, as well as there being an open paddock, there will be an hour-long ‘Pit Walk’ for fans to meet the riders and that is scheduled for between 10.30 and 11.30. Tickets are still available in advance up until Wednesday 10th September with all remaining tickets on sale at the gate. Children aged 15 and under are admitted FREE and for further information call Croft Circuit on 01325 721815. Timetable Saturday 13th September 09.30 – 09.55 Metzeler National Superstock 600 – Qualifying 10.05 – 10.40 Fuchs Silkolene British Supersport – Qualifying 1 10.50 – 11.40 2008 Bennetts British Superbikes – Free Practice 11.50 – 12.15 Henderson Yamaha R1 Cup – Free Practice 12.25 – 12.50 Relentless British 125cc – Qualifying 1 13.00 – 13.25 Metzeler National Superstock 1000 – Qualifying Interval 14.25 – 15.25 2008 Bennetts British Superbike – Swan Combi 50 Roll For Pole 15.40 Metzeler National Superstock 600, Race 1 – 15 laps 16.10 – 16.45 Fuchs Silkolene British Supersport – Qualifying 2 16.55 – 17.20 Relentless British 125cc – Qualifying 2 17.25 – 17.50 Henderson Yamaha R1 Cup – Qualifying Sunday 14th September 07.00 Gates Open 10.30 – 11.30 Pit Lane Walkabout 12.00 – 12.15 2008 Bennetts British Superbikes – Warm Up 12.20 – 12.28 Henderson Yamaha R1 Cup – Warm Up 12.33 – 12.43 Fuchs Silkolene British Supersport – Warm Up 12.48 – 12.56 Relentless British 125cc – Warm Up 13.15 2008 Bennetts British Superbikes 1, Race 2 – 20 laps 14.00 Henderson Yamaha R1 Cup, Race 3 – 14 laps 14.45 Fuchs Silkolene British Supersport, Race 4 – 18 laps 15.35 2008 Bennetts British Superbikes 2, Race 5 – 20 laps 16.25 Relentless British 125cc, Race 6 – 14 laps 17.05 Metzeler National Superstock 1000, Race 7 – 15 laps