GBmoto Kawasaki boss Mark Smith-Halvorsen believes the final pre-Showdown MCE British Superbike round at Donington Park is the biggest meeting in the team’s history.

Chris Walker should wrap up his place in the final six at the Leicestershire track while James Ellison, who is still returning from a horrible Brands Hatch crash, still has a mathematical chance of securing a place but it will take a disaster from either Walker or Dan Linfoot for that to happen.

“This is an important weekend for the Lloyds British GBmoto Kawasaki team, probably the biggest in our history, as we bid to secure our first ever British Superbike Showdown position. Chris has shown everyone this year why he is still one of the best Superbike riders on the grid and he thoroughly deserves to be in the Showdown so we will be doing everything possible to make that happen,” said Smith-Halvorsen.

“James fully deserves to be in the Showdown too, having had a fantastic season up until the crash at Brands Hatch. Unfortunately, whilst he still sits in a mathematical chance of making the all-important top six, it is not a realistic outcome. However we will keep focussing on ensuring he’s back to full fitness where we know he’ll again be challenging for podiums and race wins before the end of the season and make sure he secures the Riders Cup.”