Eurosport - Tue, 07 Oct 13:49:00 2008
Shane Byrne began his career at Brands Hatch - and now plans to celebrate his British Superbike title there with a winning double.
The Airwaves Ducati rider, who also took his first race victory at Brands, won Britain's premier crown for the second time in five years in the penultimate round at Silverstone before he leaves for the world stage in 2009.
However that has not lessened his desire to add to his eight race wins this season.
"It's my home circuit, and I can just go out there and enjoy myself knowing that the championship is mine," said Byrne.
"I really hope I can sign the season off in style and I'm going to be pushing 100 per cent to get back on to the top step of the podium."
That will not come easily. Five riders go into the final two 30-lap races scrapping for the runner-up spot. Leon Haslam - riding a HM Plant Honda for the last time in British action before moving into the World Superbike series - is the man of the moment having won five of the previous seven races.
"Winning is what it is all about and I want to end the season with a double," Haslam said. "My aim at the start of the season was the title, but now I want to be the best of the rest.
"In the last four rounds I've been the top scorer and I am keen to continue that to make up for the bad start I had to the season."
Haslam holds an 18-point advantage over Tom Sykes.
Riding the Rizla Suzuki, Sykes has made a big impact in only his second year in Superbikes.
He has taken the fight to the sharp-end of the pack, winning three times - and will also move into the worldwide series in 2009.
"I am going there with the mindset to win races," said Sykes. "I need to at least beat Leon Haslam as we want the runner-up spot in the standings."
Cal Crutchlow, whose second victory of the season came at the Kent circuit back in May, is keen for a winning finale. He too is moving on next season - in his case to World Supersport - but feels he has unfinished business with his present HM Plant Honda team.
"I desperately want to end this year on a high and for me a win at least would be the best way to sign off things in the UK," he said. "I will be doing everything I can to do the double."
Watch British Superbikes live from Brands Hatch next weekend on your PC via the Eurosport Player - click on the link under the picture to subscribe.
Or watch the action on British Eurosport, available in the UK on Sky channel 410 and Virgin Media channel 521, and British Eurosport 2, available on Sky 411 and Virgin Media 525.
Comment 1 - 3 of 3
Tom Sykes, Shakey Byrne and Leon Haslam all in World Superbikes next year. Cal Crutchlow in World Supersport and the old guard coming back to BSB with Greg Lavilla, Chris Walker and Neil Hodson. Not really looking that good for next year at all. No way could Chris and Neil re-create that fantastic battle of 2000 so lets hope some good new young guys come along to keep the series honest and exciting.
I would like to see a Non Factory rider like Ellison or Andrews get a Podium
camier will beat the lot of you!!!!!!!!
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