This weekend (5-7 August) the British Superbike Championship returns to Brands Hatch in Kent for the second time this season as the series reaches its seventh round and the ‘Big Brands Bash’. Honda Racing are fired up and ready to go after completing a successful two-day test at its home circuit, Cadwell Park last week.
Arriving aboard their Honda CBR1000RR Fireblade machines Dan Linfoot and Jason O’Halloran will be on the hunt for further podium places following good results from the last previous rounds.
The O’Show will be looking to repeat his good form, which in the past two rounds has seen him claim his debut BSB win and a second-place finish. Linfoot, who struggled at Thruxton, worked to identify the problems during the recent test and will be looking to show his potential at Brands, while he pushes for his elusive maiden BSB win.
Disappointed with the last few rounds, the team’s third rider Jenny Tinmouth enjoyed the recent test with improved lap times and a good feeling on her Fireblade machine, and she arrives at Brands Hatch confident for the weekend ahead and to start to make amends.
The overall championship standings see O’Halloran third with Linfoot close behind in fifth place. For all the latest news and information on the team follow @HondaRacingBSB on Twitter or like the team’s Facebook page.
2016 MCE British Superbike Championship, round seven:Brands Hatch, KentEvent schedule:
Friday 5 August 1015 – 1100 – FP11520 – 1605 – FP2
Saturday 6 August 1020 – 1105 – FP31505 – 1523 – Q11530 – 1542 – Q21549 – Superpole
Sunday 7 August 0935 – 0950 – Warm up1330 – Race one (20 laps 78km)1630 – Race two (20 laps 78km)
I can’t wait for Brands GP this weekend, it's another track that I love, and the final race of 2015 was a strong one for us here. I'm looking to recover points again after a weak round at Thruxton, where we didn't capitalise on our pace and qualifying position to score big points. We had a good test last week and I am feeling happy with the Fireblade. This weekend our aim is to recover points by topping up the podium credits, which I know can be done, so I just need to knuckle down and hit the ground running as soon as we get there.Dan Linfoot / #4
I’m really looking forward to Brands Hatch. It’s one of my favourite circuits: I love the fast, flowing nature of it and it’s great fun to ride the Fireblade at. After a good test at Cadwell last week it will be great to get back out on the bike again. I was disappointed at Thruxton after clipping the curb at the Club Chicane in race one and subsequently having to miss out on race two as well. So I’m really keen to get going again at Brands, and if I can improve my lap times as much as I did at Thruxton then we’ll be in the mix. We already have a good chassis set up for Brands from round three earlier in the season, so I’m feeling really confident on the bike. I’ve been working hard on my training since Thruxton and I love the circuit so I’m really looking forward to FP1 and to see where we go from there.Jenny Tinmouth / #20
I’m really looking forward to Brands Hatch, I love racing there, the fans are awesome and Brands always has a good atmosphere. It is an important round for us and we need two strong races. I will be looking for two podiums this weekend and to be fighting at the front, as we have done during the last two rounds at Snetterton and Thruxton. We recently had a test at Cadwell Park and found some improvements with the Fireblade setting and it was great to ride there again! With the improvements found at the test I am hopeful it will transfer to Brands and work well for us there.Jason O'Halloran / #22
This weekend is so important for all the team and all three riders, we have to be chasing podiums and not losing out on important points. Thruxton was a good weekend and saw Jason again on the podium, but for Dan he struggled slightly and at this stage in the championship we can’t afford for this to happen. The test at Cadwell last week proved to be another turning point for all riders and I feel that Dan, Jenny and Jason are all ready to step it up even more at Brands and show their potential even more this weekend.Havier Beltran - Honda Racing team manager