The heat is on in the chase for the THINK! British Superbike Championship

crown with John Reynolds and Michael Rutter locked in an intriguing battle

for supremacy as they power into the double race penultimate round at Oulton

Park on Sunday 12 September.

Reynolds, the twice former champion, takes a 33 points advantage into the

races at the Cheshire circuit, with Rutter keen to make further inroads in

his efforts to secure the country's premier title for the first time in his

career.

Both riders have good pedigrees as they return to the circuit for a second

time in the current campaign, and both are keen to shrug aside disappointing

memories of their most recent races at Cadwell Park, where both endured

misfortune.

The Rizla Suzuki rider tumbled out the opening race at the Lincolnshire

circuit, while Rutter took his sixth victory and then in the second race,

Reynolds struggled into eighth place while the HM Plant Honda rider was

forced to pull out having gambled incorrectly on tyre choice as the track

dried out from an earlier shower.

That has put added importance onto these two races, which could prove

decisive in the hopes and ambitions of the two riders. Both reckon their

focus is simply on winning races and not thinking about the title, but at

this stage of the season, that is real terms equates to one and the same

thing.

However, they cannot regard the races as a private duel for the crown - both

have team-mates eager for success, and in both the Suzuki and Honda camps

there is a policy of no team-orders. Yukio Kagayama, riding Suzuki, won

both races at Oulton Park back in May and is eager for more, while Ryuichi

Kiyonari, after a lean mid-season, is just running into good form.

That spells problems, and these will be added to by the determined Scott

Smart who is proving the revelation of the season aboard the Hawk Kawasaki.

The 28 year old has won three times already but has the overall runners-up

position in mind and to achieve that, he needs more maximum points scores.

Sean Emmett may be coming to the end of his time as a MonsterMob Ducati

rider but that will not stop him wanting to win - he needs to impress to

secure a good ride in next year's championship, and that is a sentiment

shared by the sport's super-sub James Haydon.

He continues with the Virgin Mobile Samsung Yamaha team and could well add

to his Knockhill success, while the time is right for Aussie Dean Thomas to

secure a first podium finish aboard the Dienza Ducati.

Adding spice to the action through the pack, the race for the Superbike Cup

for Independent teams and riders should reach a climax at the meeting. James

Ellison needs only eight points to secure the trophy for his Jentin Yamaha

team, but expect his to be made to work all of the way by Jon Kirkham.

In the support races, Karl Harris expects to secure his second British

Supersport title in as many years, although Jason Vincent has other ideas,

while in the National Superstock series there is an intense four-rider

battle for the crown. Tristan Palmer leads, just, from Andy Tinsley, Danny

Beaumont and Ben Wilson. And in the British 125ccGP Championship

Macclesfield rider Christian Elkin will be hoping for local support as he

bids to extend his advantage over Eugene Laverty in the title stakes.

The National Superstock Cup takes to the track on Saturday afternoon with Hawk

Kawasaki rider Peter Hickman looking to extend his points lead over Simon Wright.

Leading positions in the THINK! British Superbike Championship after round

eleven:

1 John Reynolds 370

2 Michael Rutter 337

3 Scott Smart 296

4 Yukio Kagayama 290

5 Sean Emmett 262

6 Ryuichi Kiyonari 170

7 James Haydon 155

8 Dean Thomas 155

9 Tommy Hill 116

10 Gary Mason 100

ends