SHOWDOWN SIX SET FOR ASSEN AS MCE BSB TITLE FIGHT INTENSIFIES
The six MCE Insurance British Superbike Championship Title Fighters are gearing up for the most important event of the season so far, the crucial opening round of the Showdown at the legendary Assen circuit in Holland this weekend (19/20/21 September).
Shane ‘Shakey’ Byrne leads the six Title Fighters to Holland with a 26 point advantage. The Rapid Solicitors Kawasaki rider knows however, that he hasn’t won a race since Knockhill in June and that is something he needs to put right if he is going to win the ‘War for Four’ titles against Ryuichi Kiyonari.
Byrne, who topped a recent test at Assen, said: “We did the best we could during the Main Season and now our focus is on improving the Rapid Solicitors Kawasaki a little bit and for me to try and find whatever it is we need to start beating Kiyo. We are there in all conditions so if we can continue that form and sneak a win, two, six, or even the seven races we have left, then that would be fantastic. Hopefully we can jump back on the top step at Assen and do some winning again because that is what we go racing for!”
Buildbase BMW’s Kiyonari kick starts the Showdown after claiming a double win last time out at Donington Park. The Japanese contender held off Byrne in both races to gain the psychological edge ahead of Assen. The triple title-winner wants nothing more than to beat Byrne to an unprecedented fourth title.
Kiyonari said: “I have no different plan for the Showdown – I just want to come out and push hard in every round and every race and I hope that is enough to win the championship. We had wins at Donington Park and it wasn’t easy but we keep improving the Buildbase BMW every time we are on track so we need to keep pushing. I want to try and win all seven races!”
The leading pair are locked in their ‘War for Four’, but currently Josh Brookes splits the pair in the standings, holding a single point advantage over Kiyonari. The Australian hasn’t won a MCE BSB title and is counting on two strong performances at Assen on Sunday to edge him closer to achieving his ambition.
Brookes said: “It is getting pretty serious now isn’t it? We were on the podium at Donington Park again, so we are looking forward to going into the Showdown with some good form. We posted some good, consistent times at the Assen test and the Milwaukee Yamaha seems to work well there. I am eager now to get there and get the Showdown started as it feels like it has been a long year to get to the crunch time. I won’t approach the Showdown any differently – as I have said before, I try as hard as I can every time I am on track.”
The chasing pack are not going to give up without a fight and race winner Tommy Bridewell is bullish about adding to his winning tally before the season ends. Milwaukee Yamaha are the only team to have both riders in the Showdown and aim to start the final three rounds with strong performances.
Chris Walker and Dan Linfoot complete the top six, the pair eager to prove that they have what it takes after securing their Title Fighter positions for the first time. The Lloyds British GBmoto Racing Kawasaki and Quattro Plant Kawasaki riders have both scored podium finishes already this year and will be aiming to upstage their title rivals.
For more information please visit www.britishsuperbike.com
More, from a press release issued by Buildbase BMW Motorrad:
The Showdown gets serious for Kiyo – Jackson runs in BSB to make a Buildbase BMW Motorrad triple threat.
All three Buildbase BMW Motorrad riders will be at Assen for the Dutch round of British Superbikes, with Lee Jackson once again getting to ride a BSB-spec BMW S 1000 RR alongside Ryuichi Kiyonari and James Westmoreland.
Kiyonari’s recent double victory at Donington Park has left no doubt about his intentions for the MCE British Superbikes Showdown, having closed the gap on his rival and fellow three-time BSB Champion Shane ‘Shakey’ Byrne to just 27 points.
This weekend’s action – the first of three Showdown rounds – in Assen will host two of the seven remaining BSB races of the 2014 season and gives Kiyo the chance to further pile the pressure on his title rival Shakey. Byrne hasn’t won a race since the Buildbase BMW Motorrad rider’s first BMW-powered victory at Knockhill in June.
Lee Jackson is getting another opportunity to ride in the British Superbike class at Assen, with the Superstock 1000 support series not in attendance at the Dutch round, the team have provided a BSB-spec bike for the young rider to compete on.
Jackson currently holds third in the overall standings in the Superstock class, in a season where he has celebrated a victory and four other podium finishes, with two rounds still remaining. The Lincolnshire youngster, who turned 19 this week, has had opportunities to combine the two classes, but this weekend he can focus fully on the Superbike Championship races.
Ryuichi Kiyonari said: “I’ve now got to push hard every round and every race; I hope I can win the Championship. After three years of bad results I am very happy with my bike and team, I am feeling good. At Donington Park everything went great and it made me think ‘no problem’ – but Shakey and Josh are two very good riders.”
Lee Jackson said: “I’m really looking forward to riding the circuit for the first time. I’ve been watching lots of bike racing from Assen and the track looks like it could really suit my style, so once I’ve been out and learnt the track I then can start to push on. I rode a Superbike on Sunday at Mallory Park just to get used to the bike I’ll be riding and I felt at home on it straight away.”
Stuart Hicken, Team Owner, said: “Evidently it’s a very big round for us. And all we need to do is keep doing what we have been doing. And we’ve got three riders in BSB this weekend with Lee getting another shot on the Superbike. Unfortunately we missed the Assen Showdown test as Kiyo’s bike was in bits after Cadwell, but this won’t hold him or us back. He’s ridden there at world level and he’s absolutely on form at the moment. With lady luck on our side, we’ll be even closer to Shakey when we leave at the end of the weekend.”
The next round of the MCE Insurance British Superbike Championship and the first race of the Showdown takes place at TT Circuit Assen on 19/20/21 September. For more information click here or visit www.bsbassen.com
MCE Insurance British Superbike Championship standings ahead of the Showdown round one at Assen:
1. Shane Byrne (Rapid Solicitors Kawasaki) 562
2. Josh Brookes (Milwaukee Yamaha) 536
3. Ryuichi Kiyonari (Buildbase BMW Motorrad) 535
4. Tommy Bridewell (Milwaukee Yamaha) 508
5. Chris Walker (Lloyds British GBmoto Racing Kawasaki) 505
6. Dan Linfoot (Quattro Plant Kawasaki) 501
Pirelli National Superstock 1000 standings after Donington Park:
1. Danny Buchan (Tsingtao Kawasaki) 215
2. Jason O’Halloran (Honda Racing) 187
3. Lee Jackson (Buildbase BMW Motorrad) 149
4. Adam Jenkinson (Northern Escalator Kawasaki) 95
5. Filip Backlund (FFX Yamaha) 88
6. Hudson Kennaugh (Trix Moto BMW) 84
More, from a press release issued by Milwaukee Yamaha:
MILWAUKEE YAMAHA READY TO TAKE ON THE SHOWDOWN
Milwaukee Yamaha’s Josh Brookes and Tommy Bridewell have high hopes ahead of this weekend’s tenth round of the MCE Insurance British Superbike Championship as the Showdown gets underway at the legendary Assen circuit.
Milwaukee Yamaha are the only team to have both riders represented in the Showdown and following a recent test at the Dutch circuit, Brookes and Bridewell are both feeling confident of a repeat performance of their Donington Park podium-finishing form.
Brookes arrives at Assen holding second place in the overall standings, 26 points adrift of series leader Shane Byrne. The Australian has previous winning form at the Dutch track and is determined to add to his winning tally this weekend. Bridewell holds fourth place in the overall standings and is eager to boost his podium tally during the Showdown, starting at Assen.
Brookes said: “It is getting pretty serious now isn’t it? I have been in the Showdown every year we have had it so there was never any doubt in my mind that we wouldn’t be in this position. We were on the podium again at Donington Park so we are looking forward to going into the Showdown with some good form. We tested at Assen before Donington Park and we posted some good, consistent times and the Milwaukee Yamaha seems to work well there. I am eager now to get there and get the Showdown started as it feels like it has been a long year to get to the crunch time. I won’t approach the Showdown any differently; I try as hard as I can every time I am on the track.”
Bridewell said: “It’s good to be at this point of the season. We tested at Assen recently and we were fast and the bike is strong so now I am looking forward to getting the Showdown started as I am ready to just get going. I am sure most of the boys feel the same because it is a lot of pressure just to make the top six and then the next minute we are into the final three rounds so we want to just get stuck in and have a good go for it. If we can have some luck and just leather the thing then we could win it or we could be sixth after the final round at Brands Hatch, we just have to keep pushing and see what happens.”
For more information visit www.milwaukeeyamaha.com