This weekend’s British Superbike triple-header at Oulton Park will decide the final positions for the 2015 Showdown, which currently houses both Tyco BMW riders Tommy Bridewell and Michael Laverty.
Bridewell is relatively safe in fourth position, but having won at Oulton Park earlier in the season on his BMW Motorrad S1000RR, the Wiltshire racer will be looking for something similar from this weekend’s three races, as he looks to increase his podium credits.
Laverty currently holds sixth place in the championship standings and although he has a 21-point advantage over the seventh placed rider, the Ulsterman will not be taking anything for granted on his Tyco BMW.
In the National 1000cc Superstock class, Alastair Seeley will be looking to reduce the deficit at the top of the championship standings before his season is put on hold until October, for the final two rounds at Silverstone and Brands Hatch.
Seeley currently trails championship leader Josh Elliott by 22 points, and with fifteen podiums and seven wins recorded between the leading duo, Sunday’s 14-lap race promises to be another thriller as they fight it out for top spot.
Tommy Bridewell: “We showed some good pace at Oulton Park earlier in the season and with improvements to the Tyco BMW since then, I’ll be looking for a big points haul this weekend from the three races. The aim is to have both Tyco BMWs in the Showdown and if I can help Michael I will.”
Michael Laverty: “It’s been a tougher season than I anticipated results-wise, but things have been slowly coming together for me. We just need to keep doing what we have been doing recently, and once we qualify for the Showdown, the aim is to fight for consistent podiums and hopefully win some races. Oulton Park should be a good one for us as the S1000RR worked well here earlier in the year. I’m a bit frustrated that I threw points away with a crash at Cadwell Park, but if we have a normal weekend where nothing goes wrong I think we are safe in that top six.”
Alastair Seeley: “It’s important for me to try and take a chunk out of Josh’s championship lead before the final two rounds in October. We’ve worked hard all year on the Tyco BMW S1000RR and having won here back in May, the goal will be something similar. It’s tight at the top but that’s what makes it an exciting championship and I’ve a funny feeling it’s going to be another year fighting for a title on the final day at Brands Hatch.”
Philip Neill – Team Manager: “Our last visit to Oulton was very good to us, therefore we will be looking for more success in both BSB and Superstock 1000. It’s very clear that we need race wins in the Stock 1000 class with Alastair and in many respects the outcome of the title is not ours to decide. We must now endeavour to win all three races and hope that things go our way.
“In the Superbike class the task is also very clear this weekend: as much as it would be nice to challenge for race wins, the strategy first of all, is to consolidate our position in the top six with both Tommy and Michael.”
Oulton Park Schedule
Saturday: BSB Qualifying from 12.25pm and Race 1 over 18 laps at 4.30pm
Sunday: BSB Race 2 [18 laps] at 1.35pm; Superstock 1000 [14 laps] at 2.20pm and the final BSB Race 3 [18 laps] at 4.30pm.
For more information please contact – [email protected]
www.tycobmw.com