The Bennetts British Superbike Championship reached the mid-way point of the season at Brands Hatch and as the series heads to Thruxton next month (August 9/10/11) there have already been eight different race winners and a further four podium finishers.
Reigning champion Tommy Bridewell’s title defence continues to strengthen with another double podium finish last time out at Brands Hatch for Honda Racing UK, which gives him a 19-point advantage ahead of his home round at Thruxton.
His closest rival in the standings ahead of the R&G Race of the South round remains as Glenn Irwin despite the Hager PBM Ducati rider failing to score in race two at Brands Hatch after a heavy crash, before bouncing back in race three.
Whilst their rivalry continues at the top of the standings, Christian Iddon closes in for Oxford Products Racing Ducati and is now only five points adrift of Irwin ahead of him as the Winchester-based team head into their home round.
Kyle Ryde leads the Yamaha challenge in fourth place in the standings as the OMG GRILLA Yamaha Racing rider holds the edge over McAMS Racing Yamaha’s Danny Kent who completes the top five after Brands Hatch.
Brands Hatch treble race winner Ryan Vickers has closed the deficit too after his recent winning performances as the OMG GRILLA Yamaha Racing rider holds sixth ahead of Jason O'Halloran, Leon Haslam, Andrew Irwin and local contender Charlie Nesbitt, who claimed his first podium finish there last season.
The season has already produced seven race winning teams, including LKQ Euro Car Parts Kawasaki for the first time with Storm Stacey, and three podium finishing teams as the title chase reaches Hampshire.
Bennetts British Superbike Championship standings:
- Tommy Bridewell (Honda Racing UK) 217
- Glenn Irwin (Hager PBM Ducati) 198
- Christian Iddon (Oxford Products Racing Ducati) 193
- Kyle Ryde (OMG GRILLA Yamaha Racing) 185
- Danny Kent (McAMS Racing Yamaha) 148
- Ryan Vickers (OMG GRILLA Yamaha Racing) 146
- Jason O'Halloran (Completely Motorbikes Kawasaki) 128
- Leon Haslam (ROKiT BMW Motorrad Team) 122
- Andrew Irwin (Honda Racing UK) 105
- Charlie Nesbitt (MasterMac Honda) 98