It might be the home circuit for the HM Plant Honda team, but the Airwaves Ducati riders Leon Haslam and Gregorio Lavilla have a good pedigree at Cadwell Park and they are intent of spoiling the party for Ryuichi Kiyonari and Jonathan Rea at the Lincolnshire circuit on Holiday Monday 27 August.

Haslam and Lavilla were the dominant forces of the corresponding round of last season, each taking a victory and a second place, and they need more of the same to keep their title bids firmly on track, having been left playing catch-up by the Honda riders last time out at Croft.

Kiyonari, the reigning champion, took a winning double for the third time during the present campaign, at the North Yorkshire circuit to extend his lead to 26 points over his 20 year old team-mate Jonathan Rea who had to settle for second best in each of those races.

The Japanese rider does not rate the undulating, demanding Cadwell circuit as one of his favourites but Rea believes that he can pack the points to underline his title aspirations: “The tracks coming up are good for me, starting here, so I believe that I can pull him back.”

Including these races, the 150 points up for grabs, which gives Rea plenty of time to achieve his ideal of winning the title and ending the two year spell of International success but that is something that Lavilla could still have a big say in.

The Spaniard, who won the crown in 2005, is currently fourth in the standing, having experienced a traumatic mid-term in which he was sidelined three times, but, he back to strength after the injuries sustained in a tumble at Oulton Park and promising a strong run-in over the final quarter of the campaign.

He does however have to overcome the constant in-team threat posed by the determined Haslam who is the only rider in the series to have scored points in the championship so far but despite his consistency, he is still third in the standings and some 60 points down on the series leading Kiyonari.

Haslam, who has won only once so far this season, can afford nothing less than double victory at Cadwell Park in his continuing game of `catch-up' if he is to have any hopes of lifting the crown that he considers to be so important to his future career prospects.

The Honda versus Ducati rivalry is one aspect of these races, but, there is more to be expected as the growing force of Tom Sykes, twice third last time out aboard the Stobart Vent Axia Motorsport Honda, is certain to make a big impression. Since his graduation from Supersport last term, the 21 year old Huddersfield rider has enjoyed a maturing and fast riding style to suggest that maiden glory in the elite class is not too far away.

That is something his team-mate, former champion Shane Byrne, is well aware of, and it is not lost on his rivals, among them the highly talented Cal Crutchlow who claimed his first pole start aboard the Rizla Suzuki at Croft. He is intent on building on that, with almost certainly his teamster Chris Walker joining the front-running action.

Keep an eye on Leon Camier, another developing young force, together with Tommy Hill riding Virgin Media Optoma Loans Yamaha, and the experienced trio of Scott Smart, Michael Rutter and Karl Harris all of whom need strong showings.

James Buckingham, riding the Quay Garage Honda, will be aiming to build on his slender five points lead in the British Superbike Cup, but can expect tough challenges coming in from Tristan Palmer, the THR Honda rider who suffered machine problems in the previous round which cost him the lead in the series, and both Marty Nutt and Malcolm Ashley.

Practice and qualifying is through Saturday and Sunday with the Superbike racing on Monday.