The new look 2010 MCE Insurance British Superbike Championship in association with Pirelli pays its one and only visit of the year to the North East when Croft Circuit, North Yorkshire hosts one of the most important rounds of the season next Sunday (September 12th).

Billed as Britain's most popular motorsport series, this season sees a new championship format which has been effectively split into two parts and following last weekend's action at Cadwell Park, the six riders who will fight it out for the crown have now been decided.

And whilst there will still be a packed Superbike grid of 30 riders battling for honours, the cosmopolitan nature of the series is such that four nations are represented in the 'Title Fighters' showdown, whereby the two races at Croft form the first round and with just one point separating the top three riders, it couldn't be closer.

Japanese factory rider Ryuichi Kiyonari shares the series lead with England's Tommy Hill on his Worx Crescent Suzuki with Kiyo's team-mate, Josh Brookes from Australia, just one point adrift on the second of the locally-sponsored HM Plant Hondas. English veteran Michael Rutter is just 15 points off the lead on his exquisite RidersMotorcycles.com Ducati with the Ulster pairing of Michael Laverty and Alastair Seeley marginally behind on their Relentless by TAS Suzukis.

All the Title Fighters know a good result at Croft is imperative but there'll be plenty trying to stop them and none more so than the locally based Swan Honda team from Guisborough. Scotsman Stuart Easton took a memorable win at Croft for the team last year and will be looking to impress along with local Kendal rider James Ellison, both of whom have had indifferent seasons.

Dan Linfoot is another local rider aiming for a good result at Croft and the Knaresborough man is hoping for just that on his Motorpoint Yamaha but with the likes of team-mate Andrew Pitt, the Australian double world champion, the experienced Chris Walker (Sorrymate.com Honda) and Japanese ace Yukio Kagayama (Worx Crescent Suzuki), he knows it's not going to be easy.

Ulsterman John Laverty (Buildbase Kawasaki), the MSS Kawasaki pairing of Simon Andrews and Gary Mason as well as Quay Garage Honda's Tommy Bridewell are all expected to be in the mix whereas local interest in the Mirror.co.uk EVO Cup centres on Newcastle rider Chris Burns on his Splitlath Aprilia as the action is fought out in front of tens of thousands of race-starved local fans.

In addition to the two, 20-lap feature races, a full support race programme is included during the weekend. Huddersfield rider James Lodge narrowly leads the SpeedyRetail.com 125cc class and with Croft hosting two races, he needs a pair of good results after a lean spell.

Lincoln's Sam Lowes comfortably leads the Fuchs-Silkolene British Supersport Championship but Hexham's Graeme Gowland knows his way around the 2.125-mile track and will provide stiff opposition on his PTR Honda. Jon Kirkham from Derby can wrap up the Metzeler 1000cc Superstock Championship, with a sixth place finish on his Clark's BMW and Cirencester rider Josh Day knows a decent finish is required to keep his hopes of the Metzeler 600cc Superstock Championship on track on his AIR Yamaha.

Other local interest will see Yarm-residing South African AJ Venter hoping to score a podium in the Supersport class on his MAP Triumph and Bishop Auckland's Barry Burrell trying to do likewise in Superstock 1000 on his Buildbase Kawasaki. Teenager Richard Ferguson from Hartburn is the sole representative in the 125cc class on his Honda.


Saturday's action commences at 09.30 and sees the all-important qualifying sessions, including the exciting F1-style Swan Combi Roll for Pole knockout qualifying session at 14.10 followed by the first of the 14-lap SpeedyRetail.com British 125GP races at 17.15.


Due to stringent noise restrictions and to comply with local authority regulations, the action cannot commence until after 12.00 noon on Sunday whereby the action kicks off with the warm up sessions before the first MCE Insurance British Superbike race which is scheduled to start at 13.25 followed by the second at 16.30. However, during the morning, as well as there being an open paddock, there will be an hour-long 'Pit Walk' for fans to meet the riders and that is scheduled for between 10.30 and 11.30.


Adult admission costs £8.00 per adult on Friday, £13.00 per adult on Saturday and £27.00 per adult on Sunday with a weekend ticket costing £33.00. There are strictly limited Grandstand seats available for Sunday only costing £7.00 each. Children aged 15 and under are admitted FREE and there is FREE paddock access and car/bike parking. For further information call Croft Circuit on 01325 721815.



The Official Croft Supporters Club will be guests of Swan Honda at 6.00pm on Friday 10th September whereby members will get to meet riders Stuart Easton, James Ellison and team owner Shaun Muir before enjoying refreshments during a short chat show and concluding with a look behind the scenes in the Swan Honda Garage. Further details from Terry Wright on 07771 514285.



Once again the North Yorkshire Road Racing Supporters Club will be staging its annual BSB Chat Show which will take place on Friday 10th September at The Golden Lion Hotel in Northallerton at 8.00pm. Planning on attending are the Worx Crescent Suzuki team of Tommy Hill, Yukio Kagayama and team manager Jack Valentine, MSS Kawasaki's Simon Andrews, Gary Mason and team manager Nick Morgan and the Buildbase Kawasaki team of John Laverty, Adam Jenkinson, Barry Burrell and Lee Jackson plus team managers Stuart and Steven Hicken. Also there will be British Superbike Championship Race and Series Director Stuart Higgs plus a number of other guests. Admission costs £6 per person (£4 NYRRSC members) and for further information, please contact Mike Reed on 07979 702338.