Three top-class International riders face a high-speed `shoot-out' for title glory as the Bennetts British Superbike Championship climaxes with a classic showdown at Brands Hatch on Sunday 1 October.

And, adding further spice to the action, Gregorio Lavilla, Ryuichi Kiyonari and Leon Haslam will be riding with double points at stake in each of the two races, to be decided over the demanding grand prix circuit.

The trio of title contenders are separated by just nine points after a dramatic penultimate round at Silverstone which turned the title chase on its head. Haslam had been heading the chase before the action began, but, in a dramatic, incident packed affair, he slipped to third place in the title stakes, adrift of his Airwaves Ducati team-mate Lavilla, the new leader, and HM Plant Honda's Kiyonari.

Now as they power into the Kent circuit, the only strategy each of them can have is to go all out for victory in the first of the two races, and then consider any tactical riding for the second race.

Kiyonari is eager to become the first Japanese rider to win the British crown, and, with a winning double last time out, he has now won ten races - he goes into the final action knowing that if he equals his tally of a dozen race victories of last year, then he will have achieved his ideal. But, the 23 year old does not have good memories of racing the 2.3 mile circuit, and in the corresponding round last term managed only a pair of fourth placings.

He will be working hard to put that record straight, and also looking to his team-mate Karl Harris to offer some support, in riding to head off the two Airwaves bikes, not that in that camp the two title rivals will looking to help one-another.

Both reigning champion Lavilla and Haslam have equal opportunities, as team manager Colin Wright explained: “Both riders are eager to win, and frankly I'm not fussed either way as long as it is one of them and not Kiyo. That's all I'm saying,” he smiled.

Lavilla, the stylish Spanish rider, who moved a single point clear of Kiyonari, and a further eight ahead of Haslam, as he took a pair of second places at Silverstone is seeing some parallels with last season when with a strong second half flourish he clinched the crown.

“Then, I had a single point lead with two rounds to go, this time, I have a single point lead, with one round, but double points, to go - it is now a one round championship,” said Lavilla who can reflect on his winning ride in the first of last year's two races in the finale which sealed his title glory.

The other race on that October afternoon was won by Haslam, who had finished the earlier race less than a third of a second down on his team-mate. “I know what I have to do and will be concentrating hard - I made a little mistake, pushing too hard in the first race at Silverstone, but was pleased with the points in the second race. Now I am really looking forward to these last races. I want the title.”

The battlelines are drawn, and although Lavilla, Kiyonari and Haslam are the only riders gunning for Britain's premier crown, there are other riders out there with a point to prove - keep an eye on former champion Shane Byrne riding and the Rizla Suzuki and his team-mate James Haydon.

Local hero Tommy Hill, who has just agreed to continue with the Virgin Mobile Yamaha team next season, is looking for a strong result as are other top riders including Glen Richards, Michael Rutter, Scott Smart, Dean Thomas and Michael Laverty.

There is everything to play for, with scraps throughout the pack, while upfront the `big-three' battle for the crown.

ends