Smiths BMW's Peter Hickman reckons there is pressure on everyone who is not already a confirmed 2018 Bennetts British Superbike Showdown rider as everyone prepared for this weekend's Silverstone triple-header.
Hickman currently occupies sixth place in the points table with a seven-point advantage over Danny Buchan in seventh and a further six over Christian Iddon one place further back but it could be all change at the Northamptonshire circuit.
“The pressure is on all of us for Silverstone really. It is only seven points from me to Danny and 15 to me Christian, whereas last year I went into the round with a 30 point lead over seventh so last year I was a bit safe – this year I am definitely not safe," said Hickman.
“I am quite a thinking person and I saw Danny Buchan go down and knew I would be top six if I finished in the position I was in at Cadwell Park. It didn’t change how I rode. The last thing I wanted to do was not to finish and lose those points because I would have lost a Showdown position.
"I didn’t have a lunge at Cadwell Park on Christian for one point because I wasn’t feeling on top form – it could yet bite me on the arse but I didn’t want to lose those points. I aired on the side of caution maybe because I wasn’t feeling myself but you have to think about everything and I have already dropped a load of points this year – I couldn’t lose any more.
“The only good thing for me is Silverstone has been good to me in the past so fingers crossed it all goes good for us. I have to take it race by race, it is going to be interesting with three races and the points that are available, I have a bit more of a cushion over Jason but I need to stay ahead of Christian and Danny.
"I need to be ahead or one place behind them as it would still mean I finish in front. I think the pressure is more on them as they have to be in front of me! They have to pull out a good result to overhaul me and I have to pull out a result to be in front of them.”