For most of the field in the British Superbike series, this weekend will be their final race of the season. The ninth round at Cadwell Park will narrow the field down to just six riders, who will compete in the British Superbike showdown.
There is only one spot to fill in the top six, as all riders in the top five have secured their positions in the BSBK showdown. Ryuichi Kiyonari, Tommy Hill, Josh Brookes, Michael Rutter, and Michael Laverty, will now be concentrating on podium credits, which are the only points that will transfer over into the showdown.
"We may be safely in the top six but I don't think you can underestimate how important the Podium Credits are at this stage,” Hill said. “They are so important and so the best podium finish possible is the aim for sure.”
Kiyonari has earned 23 podium credits so far this season, as Hill has earned 20 to Brookes' 19. Rutter and Laverty are further behind, with 10 and 9 podium credits respectively.
As the top five riders battle out for the advantage during the BSBK showdown, a battle of survival will ensue between Alastair Seeley, John Laverty, and Stuart Easton, to decide the final title fighter.
The main battle will be between Seeley, who currently holds the 6th place spot, and Laverty, who sits just ten points back. Easton can still get into the top 6 mathematically, but it would take a superb weekend from the Swan Honda Rider to accomplish the feat.
“I know that I still have an outside chance of getting in to the Showdown, but we know that anything can happen,” Easton said. “I really need to get my head down and finish ahead of Alastair (Seeley) and John (Laverty).”
