Silverstone preview (for front)

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Silverstone 3/4th October sets the scene for a blockbuster finish
After fifteen hard races and eight rounds, the Silverstone Grand Prix circuit in Northamptonshire will see this fascinating series come to a head. AOS Be Wiser Kawasaki’s Ricky Stevens and Ryan Charlwood head for Silverstone with an eighty-two and a half point advantage over their nearest challengers Andy Peach/Charlie Richardson (L&W Racing Kawasaki). A further forty-two points back is the Express Tyres/Blinkbonny team of Steve Kershaw/Rob Wilson. The business-like pair from the Borders are having their best season ever, truly being a thorn in the side of all the big name hopefuls. With double points on hand in the Grand Finale at Brands Hatch, Stevens knows the run in to the title will not be easy. There are a number of would-be spoilers making an appearance at Silverstone, namely Tim Reeves/Gregory Cluze (Team E-Aide Motorsport Kawasaki), Ben and Tom Birchall who are debuting a 600cc Honda powered LCR, and the returning Sean Hegarty/James Neave (Hegarty Racing Suzuki). Add to these names a fiercely determined Peach, and the big points will not be easy for Stevens to earn. It is fair to say, it’s his title to lose at this stage, but big day nerves could well play a part.
In line with the FIM thinking of the inclusion of 600cc outfits for the World Championship, the Birchalls are not alone in campaigning the smaller engine, Silverstone will also see TT legends Dave Molyneux/Dan Sayle on their 600cc Suzuki DMR, and the Founds brothers, Peter and Alan will each throw their hats in the ring with 600cc outfits. This cocktail of engine and chassis configurations will further spice up what promises to be a hall-mark event, with two races of eight and ten laps over Saturday and Sunday. Bring to this elite party the chasing Hyundai/Molson pack, and you can expect to see the very rapid BMW of Roger Lovelock.Aki Aalto, and the flying Kawasakis of Paymundo’s Tony Brown/Lee Cain and Finning Cat’s Ben Holland/Lee Watson. All these crews have run at the front this season, and are more than capable of taking points from the Stevens/Charlwood pairing.
With live Eurosport TV coverage, and the Motors TV highlights package, also hitting thirty-two million cable subscribers in the USA courtesy of MAV TV, F1 sidecar racing is at an all-time high in terms of quality of racing, entertainment value and audience size.
Silverstone sets the scene for what will undoubtedly conclude as the most important, and exciting sidecar season for many years.
www.rkbf1-sidecars.com
Media matters barry.nutley@btinternet.com

[steve-e]

need resizing down to 1000px wide really