MCE Insurance British Superbike Championship history will be made this weekend (17/18/19 October) at Brands Hatch in Kent as Shane 'Shakey' Byrne and Ryuichi Kiyonari go head-to-head for the final time this year to decide who will lift the coveted title for a record-breaking fourth time.
The title fight goes down to the wire at the triple-header event, with Byrne coming to his home round by a slender 12-point lead. The pair shared the victories at the most recent round at Silverstone two weeks ago.
Byrne said: “I have to treat Brands Hatch as a place where I need to come out and try and have three wins. That is what is top of my agenda because in BSB you would be crazy to assume that just because myself and Kiyo have been at the front for the last two rounds that it will happen at Brands Hatch.
“The fourth title is massive to me - it is two hands on history at the end of the day. If that happens for myself or Kiyo, one of us will become the most successful rider in the championship's history – ever, period, full stop. I have won the most races and to win the most titles too would be awesome. We want to have three great races and then may the best man win. Fingers crossed we can get the job done and walk away from Brands Hatch as a very happy boy.”
Kiyonari said: “Brands Hatch GP circuit is one of my favourite tracks and now we have nothing to lose. I have to win all three races; I can't let Shakey finish in front of me as he has a 12 point lead.
“I am thinking of all the different things that can happen and the championship all the time. I have to keep strong and keep pushing – it is very simple now. For sure we have pressure, it would be the fourth title, the first for the team, the first time for BMW, so there are many important things. The pressure is more and more, but we will be trying hard to win the three races.”
The triple champions will also face the growing opposition from Milwaukee Yamaha's Josh Brookes and Tommy Bridewell as the pair wrestle for third place in the overall standings whilst Quattro Plant Kawasaki's Dan Linfoot aims to beat the team-mates to the position in the final races.
