MCE British Superbike Championship 2015: Assen preview

October 31, 2015

Josh Brookes of Milwaukee Yamaha is in with a solid chance of winning the 2015 British Superbike Championship Photo: GETTY IMAGES

The MCE British Superbike Championship will be decided in an end of season shootout over the next three rounds, to be held at Assen, Silverstone and the season finale at Brands Hatch.

As per shootout rules, the top six riders in the championship after the last round at Oulton Park will fight for the title, although the points they have accumulated so far will be wiped and all six will be awarded 500 points. Added to these points will be the podium credits they have achieved throughout the regular season (five for a win, three for second place, and one for third), so that heading to Assen the standings are:

Current BSB shootout standings:

1. Josh Brookes, Milwaukee Yamaha, 553 points

2. Shane Byrne, PBM Kawasaki, 551 points

3. James Ellison, JG Speedfit Kawasaki, 522 points

4. Tommy Bridewell, Tyco BMW, 507 points

5. Dan Linfoot, Honda Racing, 507 points

6. Michael Laverty, Tyco BMW, 500 points

Josh Brookes on the Millwaukee Yamaha is the firm favourite for the championship having won seven of the last nine races, and only finishing off the podium once in that sequence.

Entering the showdown Shane Byrne is in second place, and James Ellison in third on his JG Speedfit Kawasaki. Undoubtedly in the absence of bad luck, Ellison would have been closer to Brookes and Byrne in the showdown standings, and if fully fit he has the ability to take the fight to the leading pair.

It’s hard to see the eventual champion not being one of these three, but that is the beauty of the showdown. And love it or loathe it, since its inception there have been some great finales to the season.

BSB Riders Cup

As for those riders who finished outside of the top six, the season is not over. Instead, they will continue to race and compete for the Riders Cup, continuing to add to the points gained so far in the season, with the current standings being:

Current BSB Riders Cup standings:

1. Stuart Easton, PBM Kawasaki, 139 points

2. Richard Cooper, Buildbase BMW, 119 points

3. Luke Mossey, Quattro Plant Kawasaki, 118 points

4. Jason O’Halloran, Honda Racing, 103 points

5. Peter Hickman, RAF Reserves BMW, 103 points

6. Billy McConnell, Smiths Racing BMW, 89 points

7. Danny Buchan, Be Wiser Kawasaki, 89 points

World Superbikes

Meanwhile, over in World Superbikes it is difficult to think that this weekend’s round in Jerez will not see Jonathan Rea confirmed as champion. Rea has been utterly dominant so far this season, finishing on the podium in all 20 races, including winning 12 times in the process. With three rounds, six races and 150 available points to go, all Rea needs to do is score six points more than second placed Chaz Davies.

Come what may, one thing is assured; Britain will once again be home of the WSB champion come the end of the season.

Current WSB standings:

1. Jonathan Rea, Kawasaki, 452 points

2. Chaz Davies, Ducati, 308 points

3. Tom Sykes, Kawasaki, 295 points

4. Leon Haslam, Aprilia, 259 points

5. Jordi Torres, Aprilia, 186 points

6. Sylvan Guintoli, Honda, 162 points

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk