Crucial meeting for title hopefuls
Donington Park stages a crucial round of the MCE Insurance British Superbike Championship tomorrow.
The top six will go through to the Title Fighter rounds, where the championship will be decided.
Defending champion Tommy Hill (Swan Yamaha), Josh Brookes (Tyco Suzuki), Shane Byrne (Rapid Solicitors Kawasaki) and Michael Laverty (Samsung Honda) have already qualified.
However, the pressure is on for eight other riders, who all have a mathematical chance of making the cut for the final two positions.
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Tommy Bridewell currently holds fifth but, with just a 17 point advantage, the Supersonic BMW rider knows he needs to keep his rivals behind him.
"People have said to me that I must be pretty much there, but it can change and we saw that at Cadwell Park last month," said Bridewell.
"I have a buffer, but not by much, so they still need to beat me."
Derby-based young gun Alex Lowes' maiden podium finish at Cadwell Park elevated him into sixth overall.
The WFR Honda rider topped a recent test at the Leicestershire circuit and is expecting a big fight to stay ahead of the opposition.
He said: "We expected to be aiming for the top six and we are there now, so that is where we need to stay.
"I think it will be between me, Nori Haga and Ian Lowry, but I am just going to do my own thing. The top six is the goal."
Ian Lowry (Padgetts Honda) is the first rider outside the top six bidding to make the cut.
He is six points adrift of Lowes but, with a maximum of 50 points available, he could snatch the position at the final stage.
Lowry, though, only has a six-point lead over former World Superbike contender Noriyuki Haga.
James Westmoreland (WFR Honda), Nottingham's Chris Walker (Pr1mo Bournemouth Kawasaki), Alastair Seeley (Tyco Suzuki) and Stuart Easton (Rapid Solicitors Kawasaki) also have a chance of securing one of the final positions.
Hinckley's Glen Richards will be aiming to extend his lead in the Motorpoint British Supersport Championship.
The Smiths Racing Triumph Team rider leads Yamaha's Jack Kennedy by just 9.5 points, with team-mate Billy McConnell third.
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