Leon Haslam has the edge in the chase for the Bennetts British Superbike crown but as the young Derbyshire rider heads into the penultimate round at Silverstone he can take nothing for granted amid a double pronged International challenge.

The reigning champion Gregorio Lavilla is well placed, while Ryuichi Kiyonari, having tested well at the Northamptonshire circuit is confident that he can overhaul the two Airwaves Ducati riders who stand between him and the title.

Of the three, the 23 year old Japanese rider has the biggest task. He goes into the races needing to peg back a 26 points deficit on Haslam, having tumbled out of the previous race at Cadwell Park. That has left him on the back-foot, but Kiyonari can pack the power of his HM Plant Honda when it is needed most.

Already, he has warmed to the challenge during testing by bettering the lap record and also running faster than his own pole time from the corresponding round of last year, factors that have boosted his confidence as he aims, in his third season of riding the series to be become the first Japanese rider to win the British title.

Haslam is determined that he will not achieve that. The 22 year old is enjoying a rich and consistent run of form, and apart from a tumble in the first race of the season, he has only finished outside the top three once - however, it is only in the last month that he has tasted the winner's champagne, taking the victories in two of the last three races.

That has put him ahead of his team-mate Lavilla, with the Spaniard also back in top form, having ridden through a mid-term lean spell in which he failed to score points in three out of six races. He is keen to retain the crown, and enjoyed his eighth victory of the season at Cadwell Park which signalled his not giving anything up with out a real fight.

Lavilla is 15 points down on Haslam, but apart from the points at stake at Silverstone, they are well aware that the finale at Brands a fortnight later offers a double points reward. Now is the time for consistency, with the need for each of the three title contenders to be hot on the charge, and gunning for victories.

In the Airwaves camp, there are no team-orders, save beating their Honda rivals, while in HM Plant equipe Kiyonari could be looking for a little help from his team-mate Karl Harris, the former triple Supersport champion, who could deny the Ducati riders priceless points by running ahead of them.

And, apart from the threat of the Sheffield rider, both Haslam and Lavilla need to be mindful of the hard riding teenage Ulsterman Jonathan Rea, aboard the Red Bull Honda, who is long overdue maiden race winning glory in the championship.

Former title holder Shane Byrne, having put in a series of fast laps during testing, should also be running up front aboard the Rizla Suzuki, and he will have the returning force of James Haydon, recovered from injuries sustained during the Snetterton round, on the team's second bike. They need positive results as do the Stobart Motorsport Honda duo of Michael Laverty and Michael Rutter, while Tommy Hill, riding the Virgin Mobile Yamaha, has good memories of his ride at the circuit earlier in the year when he marked his debut into the World series by claiming Superpole start.

Scott Smart returns from injury to head up the Vivaldi Suzuki challenge, alongside Ben Wilson and Ollie Bridewell, while the Hawk Kawasaki team will be looking for strong performances from Craig Coxhell, Dean Thomas and Peter Hickman. Keep an eye on the Hydrex Hondas of Glen Richards and Gary Mason also.

Chris Martin resumed his quest for the British Superbike Cup, aboard the PR Branson Honda, but will be under pressure from Marty Nutt, riding the NuttTravel.com Suzuki, Howie Mainwaring and Michael Howarth.