World Superbike Champion-elect Jonathan Rea needs only six points to win his debut title at Jerez this weekend meaning a single top-ten finish is all it will take but the works Kawasaki man is also looking to try and beat Colin Edwards’ all-time points record of 552, set 13 years ago.

Rea is currently on 452 points with 150 available from the last six races at Jerez this weekend, plus Magny-Cours and the season finale at Qatar which, if he won them all, means he would set a new benchmark of 602 points.

In 2002, Edwards was only off the podium once in all 26 races - the first race in Spain - took 11 wins and won every race from Laguna Seca until the send of the season, nine races in all. Rea so far has won 12 races and hasn’t yet finished off the podium with his worst results being a brace of thirds in America.

“There is nothing I would like better than to win the championship while standing on the top step of the podium this weekend, so we are going out to win races. We will spend Friday and Saturday setting up for that and not for claiming a championship in tenth or whatever,” said Rea, speaking to bikesportnews.com this lunchtime.

“I have had Colin Edwards’ points record in the back of my mind and to try and beat that, we need to continue winning races. I think that would be an extra reward for the team as they have worked so hard to bring us the title this year.”