The Bennetts British Superbike Championship returns to Lincolnshire this August Bank Holiday weekend as fans prepare to descend on Cadwell Park for one of the annual season highlights.
This weekend’s event will play a crucial part in the battle to become 2022 Bennetts BSB champion, with just six races (three at Cadwell Park and three at Snetterton) now remaining before the final top eight line up is confirmed ahead of the title-deciding Showdown.
Last time out at Thruxton, fans were treated to a spectacular dogfight between Jason O'Halloran, Tarran Mackenzie and Bradley Ray, who fought to the finish in the closest races of the season so far.
McAMS Yamaha’s O’Halloran leads the standings into Cadwell Park this weekend ahead of Ray, with the pair the first two riders to confirm their place as Title Fighters in the Showdown, but six places are still to be decided.
Local contender Lee Jackson currently holds third place in the standings and is bidding for a place in the Showdown for the first time.
The Lincoln rider has had his strongest campaign to date so far with Cheshire Mouldings FS-3 Racing Kawasaki and has high hopes for his home round, where a strong showing could confirm his place in the Showdown.
Rory Skinner arrives at Cadwell Park following his recent performance in the Moto2 World Championship last weekend holding fourth in the standings.
The second of the Cheshire Mouldings FS-3 Racing Kawasaki riders, the young Scot is also striving for a place in the Showdown for the first time.
A consistent weekend at Thruxton has elevated Glenn Irwin into fifth in the standings and the Silverstone triple race-winner will be looking to further strengthen his positon at the Honda Racing UK team’s home round.
Kyle Ryde is now just three points ahead of Mackenzie for sixth in the standings as the defending champion continues to catapult himself back up the order.
The McAMS Yamaha rider has been playing catch up since his recovery from pre-season injuries, but Mackenzie’s recent performances have put him firmly back in contention as he bids for consecutive titles.
Tommy Bridewell has had a strong run of form at Cadwell Park in the past and the Oxford Products Racing Ducati rider holds the final position in the top eight of the standings ahead of the three races this weekend.
It’s home hero Peter Hickman though who is leading the hunt to displace them and fire themselves into the top eight of the standings.
Hickman has fond memories of the circuit from last season; it was the scene of FHO Racing BMW’s first victory in the series and the Louth-based team will be determined to deliver a repeat performance as they bid for a place in the Showdown.
Leon Haslam remains the most successful rider of the current grid in terms of race wins at Cadwell Park; the VisionTrack Kawasaki rider has recorded nine wins at the challenging Lincolnshire circuit and adding to those would edge him closer to the top eight.
Danny Buchan and Christian Iddon are just outside of the top ten as they strive to close in on the Showdown positions.
Meanwhile one of the most popular riders with the Cadwell Park crowds is MCE Ducati’s Josh Brookes; the double champion is famed for his style at The Mountain but needs to be in the podium fight this weekend if he is to remain in Showdown contention.
Brookes has featured in every Showdown he has competed in, so will remain determined to turn his Showdown aspirations around this weekend.
Bennetts British Superbike Championship standings after Thruxton:
- Jason O'Halloran (McAMS Yamaha) 331 – SHOWDOWN CONFIRMED
- Bradley Ray (Rich Energy OMG Racing Yamaha) 307 – SHOWDOWN CONFIRMED
- Lee Jackson (Cheshire Mouldings FS-3 Kawasaki) 219
- Rory Skinner (Cheshire Mouldings FS-3 Kawasaki) 199
- Glenn Irwin (Honda Racing UK) 192
- Kyle Ryde (Rich Energy OMG Racing Yamaha) 173
- Tarran Mackenzie (McAMS Yamaha) 170
- Tommy Bridewell (Oxford Products Racing Ducati) 158
For the full championship standings please click here