Honda's Jason O'Halloran believes the pressure is only on the current Bennetts British Superbike top six and those bubbling under can ride a bit more freely at Silverstone next weekend.

O'Halloran, who has been injured since an Imola WorldSBK crash back in May, is just 28 points off a podium spot but has a good history with the Northamptonshire circuit, setting pole there last time out - albeit on the GP track, not the national circuit on which they will race three times.

“I think the people in the top six currently are the ones who will feel the pressure the most at Silverstone. The guys in like fifth, sixth and then seventh and eighth as there are fewer points between them,” said O’Halloran.

“They have the pressure to get through as they haven’t had the injuries or anything like that and they are still like 30 points ahead of us so I think from my point of view, to be in that position, is a little bit odd as I have been riding handicapped for something like 80 or 90 percent of the year really. So there is no pressure on me whatsoever.

“Myself and the team would love to be in the top six, but looking at it I have been injured for a huge chunk of the year against fully fit riders, so we need to focus on our approach, take it race by race, and just try to get back to the front.”