Fan favourite Steve Brogan is expecting a tough scrap for this year's Pirelli National Superstock Crown and says it won't be easy to wrest back the title he won in 2007.

The Liverpudlian, who this year is running his own Kawasaki under the Direct CCTV banner, says he expects nothing less of himself than to be a contender all year but is more than aware of the youngsters around him.

"I’ve done it before in 2007 riding in this class on a Honda and this time around Kawasaki have given us a bit of help and I’ve got a good sponsor on board so we can do a good job. I’ve got two good mechanics and run the team out of my garage – it’s almost one man and his van,” said Brogan.

 “It’s all coming together well and I am going all out for the championship – I expect that of myself, nothing less. I have to be a contender though it will not be easy as there is always good young blood coming through so you can’t say who is going to win, there are always surprises.

 “The important thing for me is to get a good start to the season, solid consistent finishes in the early rounds not like last year when I had a couple of little crashes. To win the title you cannot afford that. I enjoy running my own team – you get a big buzz when you succeed.”

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