Michael Laverty won’t give up on winning the MCE British Superbike title this weekend as long as he retains a mathematical chance of an unlikely coup at Brands Hatch.
The Samsung Honda rider trails series leader Shane ‘Shakey’ Byrne by 49 points ahead of this weekend’s triple header at the Kent venue and with 75 points up for grabs, the Toomebridge man will keep believing until his title goal becomes an impossibility.
Laverty is optimistic that he can improve on his performances at the previous two Showdown rounds at Assen and Silverstone on the CBR1000RR Fireblade and is striving to round out the 2012 season with a victory.
“I think Brands Hatch can be different from Assen and Silverstone,” he said.
“When we raced there last we had been playing with the settings, so I know we can be stronger than we were then and it would be nice for us to end the season on a high.
“I am hoping that the issues we had at recent rounds won’t return and we have been working on a back-up plan to get the harder tyre to work in the colder conditions,” he added.
“I am looking at the championship as we know mathematically we can still have a chance as you don’t know what will happen, so we just have to concentrate on winning races.
“I am sure Brands Hatch will be one of the best races of the season.”
Laverty is fifth overall in the Showdown standings on 559 points, seven points behind reigning champion Tommy Hill (Swan Yamaha) and 15 ahead of Supersonic BMW’s Tommy Bridewell.
Rapid Solicitors Kawasaki star Byrne has a nine-point lead over Tyco Suzuki’s Josh Brookes, who is 15 points ahead of Alex Lowes on the WFR Honda in third position.
Byrne is bidding to win the British Superbike crown for the third time, while Australian ace Brookes is chasing his maiden title success, which would also provide Ulster’s Tyco Suzuki team with a first BSB championship crown.