Michael Rutter is hot on the charge for the THINK! British Superbike title

as the action switches to Cadwell Park in Lincolnshire for the Bank Holiday

Monday, 30 August, eleventh round - the HM Plant Honda rider goes into the

afternoon's two races full of confidence after his winning double last time

out.

Those victories at Croft put Rutter back on track to go head-to-head with

John Reynolds in a title shoot-out. The Rizla Suzuki rider saw his lead in

the series cut to 50 points by the determined Rutter, and that leaves all

to play for, with 150 points still at stake.

Victories are the key for Rutter as he continues his high speed game of

catch-up while Reynolds has the comparative luxury of being able to

consider consolidation by taking strong points from safe finishes. That,

however is not something the Suzuki rider normally considers as part of his

game plan.

For Reynolds, racing is about one thing, and that is winning.

Rutter also has to be intent on winning both races at the tight, narrow and

twisting circuit, with its 'mountain' section over which the bikes are

momentarily airborne, and adding to the pressures on him is that for Honda

this is their 'home' race as the team is based at nearby Louth.

Local support will also have high expectations of Steve Plater - the

Woodhall Spa rider, now fully recovered from the arm injuries that wrecked

his season, is looking for a strong results aboard the Virgin Mobile

Samsung Yamaha. He rates Cadwell Park as a favourite and is looking to use

local

knowledge to good effect.

"This is the most awesome circuit in the country - there is no feeling in

the world like screaming over the mountain with your front wheel in the

air," smiled Plater who is hoping for a top three finish, something that

could be difficult given the strength of the opposition.

His team-mate James Haydon is intent on adding a second victory of the

campaign - he adds spice to the front-running duels along with Scott Smart

who is excelling aboard the Hawk Kawasaki. A couple of victories in his

last six races have strengthened his grip on third place in the title

stakes.

Keep an eye also on Yukio Kagayama - the Japanese rider has a point to

prove here following a disappointing time in the previous round. The

Suzuki rider is determined to conquer the circuit where last season a heavy

crash left him with serious injuries. Kagayama has not tasted the winner's

champagne since May and his fourth place in the standings is coming under

fire from Sean Emmett riding the MonsterMob Ducati

Meanwhile, in the Superbike Cup, the series within the championship for

Independent teams and riders, James Ellison, the 23-year-old Cumbrian rider

who made his MotoGP debut in the Czech Republic round, will be bidding for

a fifth winning double to ease further clear of Dennis Hobbs and John

Kirkham.

Leading positions - THINK! British Superbike Championship after round 10:

1 John Reynolds 362

2 Michael Rutter 312

3 Scott Smart 276

4 Yukio Kagayama 249

5 Sean Emmett 240

6 Ryuichi Kiyonari 150

7 Dean Thomas 132

8 James Haydon 132

9 Tommy Hill 105

10 Gary Mason 95