UK’S FASTEST BIKES HEAD TO SNETTERTON FOR BSB HALF-WAY POINT
06 June 2006 - MotorSport Vision

Speeds to reach 200mph on fastest straights in British racing

The Bennetts British Superbike Championship is Britain’s most popular bike racing championship, and a huge crowd is expected to head to Norfolk next weekend (17/18 June) to watch bikes approaching speeds of 200mph at Snetterton, on two of the fastest straights in British motor racing.

So far, reigning champion Gregorio Lavilla has been the man to beat, taking seven wins from the first 10 rounds of the series. Things haven’t gone all the Spaniard’s way, however – HM Plant Honda rider Ryuichi Kiyonari has regained the form which enabled him to storm to an early lead in last year’s championship, only for Lavilla to haul him in as the season went on.

Kiyonari took his second win of 2006 last time out at Mallory Park and Snetterton’s high-speed nature should suit the Honda Fireblade. The Japanese ace won in Norfolk last year and will be aiming to continue his current run of form.

Lavilla and Kiyonari are far from the only potential winners, however – Lavilla’s team-mate, Leon Haslam, is second in the standings with eight podium finishes out of 10 races – his first win of the year has to be just round the corner. Then there’s Kiyonari’s team-mate, Karl Harris, on the second HM Plant machine and young gun Jonathan Rea who showed his speed in the first race at Mallory before crashing while in a podium position. Never to be counted out, either, is Michael Rutter, who had control of the championship a year ago until a nightmare weekend at Snetterton sent his championship challenge in the wrong direction.

Another big name is Shane ‘Shakey’ Byrne, who will return to race the 1.9-mile circuit for the first time since 2003. The ex-Moto GP ace has yet to win on his return to the UK but a victory for the Rizla Suzuki team has to be on the cards following two podium finishes at Oulton Park a month ago, when he was suffering heavily from flu. “I won my first ever British championship race at Snetterton on a 600, so it has good memories for me,” Byrne commented. “The 200mph Revett Straight is a rush and it’s followed by the Bomb-hole, a very exciting corner.”

Discounted British Superbike race day tickets can be bought for £20 if booked in advance online at www.snetterton.co.uk before midday on Tuesday 13 June. Tickets can also be bought by calling 0870 950 9000; children aged 12 and under are admitted free.

www.motorsportvision.co.uk

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