Brands Hatch is set for the final Bennetts British Superbike Championship Showdown this weekend and it’s a close one to call.
Not since the Showdown was first introduced back in the 2010 season, have the top four Title Fighters been this tight heading into the crucial last round on the Grand Prix circuit.
Tarran Mackenzie is the target at the top of the standings, as the youngest son of former champion Niall bids to emulate his father’s title-winning success 25 years later.
Jason O’Halloran had the advantage coming into the Showdown with a 30-point buffer over his McAMS Yamaha teammate Mackenzie with Christian Iddon and Tommy Bridewell 45 and 47 points adrift respectively. However, two crashes at the Showdown opener demolished O’Halloran’s edge and Mackenzie then moved to the top of the standings for the first time this season, by just two points as he delivered his strongest performance to date at the Cheshire circuit.
A double dose of victories for Bridewell fired the Oxford Products Racing Ducati rider into the frame too as he left the first Showdown round trailing by nine points after slashing the deficit.
Donington Park saw another significant shift in championship fortunes as Mackenzie won to gain an 18-point lead, however a DNF in the final race with a technical issue, and O’Halloran’s consistent finishes mean that now 10 points separate them at the top of the standings.
Whilst the McAMS Yamaha pairing still lock out the leading two positions, a hat trick of podium finishes at Donington Park meant that Christian Iddon more than halved the advantage in the standings ahead of the final three races at Brands Hatch. The VisionTrack Ducati rider now trails by just 15 points as the battle moves to Brands Hatch.
Bridewell meanwhile also remains in contention; 21-points adrift of Mackenzie at the top, he heads to the decider bidding for another surging performance to replicate his double win at Oulton Park.
Bennetts British Superbike Championship standings:
1. Tarran Mackenzie (McAMS Yamaha) 1127
2. Jason O’Halloran (McAMS Yamaha) 1117
3. Christian Iddon (VisionTrack Ducati) 1112
4. Tommy Bridewell (Oxford Products Racing Ducati) 1106
5. Danny Buchan (SYNETIQ BMW) 1061
6. Peter Hickman (FHO Racing BMW) 1059
