All eyes on Brands Finale 16-18 October with Kershaw/Charlwood in charge

from Barry, of course.

Typically, the season winds up at the Bennetts British Superbike Championship Finale at Brands Hatch, and typically the entry list is the biggest it has been all season.

The final round includes an International element, with part two of the International Sidecar Superprix lining up with the Molson group regulars.

Those teams who are registered for both competitions, will be eligible for points in both, so expect hectic action throughout.

The Championship arrives in Kent with 2018 Champion Steve Kershaw and his new passenger Ryan Charlwood (himself a double champion) fifty-six points clear of Sam and Adam Christie on their Christie Engineering Services Yamaha.

The Beverley based brothers took the decision to focus on the British Championship long before COVID-19 signalled the cancellation of the FIM World Championship.

They will, however, need to produce the ride of a lifetime to hang onto their position, because reigning champions Todd Ellis/Charlie Richardson and Multiple World Champion Tim Reeves are back from Germany where they attacked part one of the Superprix.

The latter pair, despite Kershaw’s handsome lead, still pose a threat for the Quattro Group/Santander Salt teamsters, as double points are up for grabs in the final race of the series. Reeves, however, cannot win the title, as he has scored in just one round with a maximum fifty points from Snetterton. He can, however, be a spoiler for Kershaw if he takes valuable points from him.

There are seventy-five points available for two victories at Brands, so you can bet several pairs of eyes will be on them.

Ellis trails in third place sixty-one points adrift of his Santander Salt team-mate, so it is a big ask. He and Richardson, along with the Christie brothers, are the only two crews who can potentially steal the title from Kershaw.

Behind the top three, there has been great action from fourth placed Tommy Philp and Tom Bryant. The newcomers on their Roberts Construction/Tops Autos Yamaha were a revelation at Donington park in the previous round taking thirty-eight points away with them. A tooth and nail scrap with Lee Crawford and Scott Hardie in race one saw them narrowly beaten to race victory by Crawford’s rapid Suzuki.

The next four crews are split by a mere fifteen points with Phil Bell/Jimmy Connell leading the charge from Ricky Stevens/Jonny Allum, Lewis Blackstock/Paddy Rosney and their Silicone Barnes Racing buddies John Holden/Jake Lowther.

Then in ninth place it is Robb Biggs/Jeroen Schmitz ahead of Tim Reeves/Kevin Rousseau.

Add to this bevvy of talent a colourful foreign entry, and we have a great spectacle to look forward to.

Media Matters Barry Nutley barry.nutley@btinternet.com