Buildbase BMW team-mates James Westmoreland and Jon Kirkham will go head-to-head at this weekend's Donington Park MCE British Superbike round for the final Showdown spot.
Kirkham is currently in sixth place but has only a five-point advantage over Westmoreland in seventh. However, they both have the shadow of in-form rider Tommy Bridewell hanging over them after he bagged a second career podium last time out at Cadwell.
“I’m feeling good – I’m going into my home round and it’s a circuit where I know I can shine. I took a podium at Donington Park in 2011 and qualified on the front row in 2012. What’s more, the track really suits the BMW. It’s a bit of a shame that we didn’t get to have a great test there earlier in the year, when it felt like about minus twenty degrees! But everyone else is in a similar position so it’ll be very interesting to see how we all go," said Kirkham.
“Tommy Bridewell is on great form so I’m going to be working to hold him off this weekend and fight for that last ‘Title Fighters’ place. James is pretty close behind me as well, but that won’t affect my race strategy. The plan it to go hard for top places and find the form that has eluded us at Oulton Park and Cadwell Park – and finish the main part of the season on a high note!”
Westmoreland added: “There’s no getting around it, Cadwell Park was our worst weekend of the year! But we have made big improvements since then, I’ve got my bike feeling just right once again and I’m feeling confident going into the most important race of the year. While we didn’t get much time on track at Donington Park when we were testing, I was very competitive on the BMW S 1000 RR – even in the cold and wet. So that doesn’t worry me.
“The weather for Donington Park looks quite cold and it’s likely to rain. We have had an uncommonly dry season this year and there’s not been a single wet race, so rain will be a real game changer. I’m confident in the wet so I wouldn’t object to it raining at all! But whatever happens the important thing is for the team to get a rider into ‘The Showdown’, whether that’s Kirkham or myself. But I have to beat Jon!”
