Honda Racing’s Dan Linfoot is feeling the pressure of securing an MCE British Superbike Showdown spot at this weekend’s Oulton Park triple-header but says he is going to think more about his targets and less about staying in the top six.

Linfoot started the season brightly with four podiums on the bounce in the middle of the year but t’Yorkshireman has been off the boil in recent times and knows he needs to get back into podium contention.

“Well this is the weekend and the pressure is on! I’m hoping for a confirmed Showdown spot as soon as possible, we have three races so it can go either way. It’s either three chances for podiums or three chances for something to go wrong; I am a little cautious heading into the weekend, as I can’t afford for anything to go wrong,” he said.

“I’m trying to think as much as I can about my targets and what I want to achieve from the weekend as it takes my mind off the Showdown a little, so I am not fixating so much on it. We need to start the weekend well and qualify on the front two rows and finish each race, if we finish in the top-five in all races the Showdown will take care of itself – of course I will be pushing and I need the podium credits, but if it’s not possible then three top-five finishes is OK.

“Oulton Park is a circuit I really enjoy and it’s always been kind to me, well until I crashed out of the lead there earlier in the year! But I am looking forward to the weekend and I am sure we can have a good weekend and secure a place in the Showdown.”