Former MotoGP star John Hopkins is hoping to mix up the Showdown contenders at this weekend’s MCE British Superbike finale and finally get his Lloyds British Moto Rapido Ducati Panigale on the podium after showing enormous potential in the second half of the season.

Hopkins has bagged several front-row starts since he replaced Jakub Smrz in the team but a mixture of mechanical problems have stopped the American from converting his qualifying speed into top-three results - something he aims to change at the Kent track.

"I am really looking forward to the final round and I am feeling really positive about the weekend. We had a good race at Silverstone before we had a problem in race two, but I feel that we are in a better position coming into this weekend - the last time we raced at Brands Hatch in the summer I had spent less than an hour on the Lloyds British Moto Rapido Ducati! I was dropped in at the deep end then, but we have had updates since then and I definitely feel more comfortable on the bike so we are more prepared for this weekend,” said Hopkins.

"I think there is no reason why we can't get on that podium this weekend and mix it up a bit; perhaps even set the Showdown in some way because it would be nice to finally get in that top three after all the unfortunate things that have happened this season that have been beyond our control as a team. I am definitely ready to try and fight for it to repay the team for all their hard work."