Lee Jackson will line-up at the Oulton Bennetts British Superbike Showdown opener this weekend with his best-ever chance of winning the big trophy.

But the Cheshire Mouldings FS-3 Kawasaki (and breathe) rider says he needs a return to the form which saw Jackson take his maiden victory in the championship at the Cheshire track earlier in the year.

Jackson begins the Showdown holding fifth place in the overall standings with a 47-point deficit to championship leader Bradley Ray.

There are still a maximum of 225 points available across the final nine races at Oulton Park, Donington Park and Brands Hatch, with the Lincolnshire contender ready to try and fight back into a podium position this weekend.

“I am really looking forward to Oulton Park; obviously it is the track where I got my first win in Superbikes earlier this year so I am ready to go back there and get stuck in," said Jackson.

"There can be pressure going back to somewhere where you have won or had a good weekend before, but I think I can take that as confidence going there and knowing we were strong. We had been running in the 33s which up until this year was literally a one off or the odd person did, so I am going back with an open mind and knowing that everyone is on form.

“My form hasn’t been as good recently but I know that we can get back to the front and fight for the podiums again. The aim is the podium and if I can do that, then that will be fantastic as it will draw me closer to the championship and the aim of being in the top three and fighting for the championship.

“Of course, the Showdown is only three rounds long, so if I can get the form back that we had earlier in the season then there is no reason why we can’t be fighting for the British Championship, but Brad is very strong. I need to be pushing on and aiming for the podiums now in every race to get the Cheshire Mouldings FS-3 Kawasaki back up the front.”