Eight different race winners but who will be crowned Monster Energy King of Donington

Eight different race winners but who will be crowned Monster Energy King of Donington as title fight intensifies?

Six rounds now remain in the battle to become the 2020 Bennetts British Superbike champion and, with eight different race winners already this season; the competition is as fierce as ever ahead of Donington Park’s rounds this weekend (October 2/3/4).

Glenn Irwin had his lead drastically cut at Oulton Park and now only holds a narrow two-point advantage in the title chase. The Honda Racing rider will be bidding to regain the advantage that was lost in Cheshire, but faces tough competition with just 12 points now separating the top four contenders.

The leading protagonists are focused on the title battle, but there is another prize to fight for this weekend. The Monster Energy King of Donington trophy has been recreated, and will be presented to the rider with the largest number of points after this weekend’s three rounds.

First in line to overhaul Glenn Irwin at the top is McAMS Yamaha’s Jason O’Halloran, who was the latest different race winner in 2020 at Oulton Park, doubling up on victories to launch himself to second in the standings ahead of this weekend.

A further eight points adrift of O’Halloran is Josh Brookes who leads the VisionTrack Ducati attack after the 2015 champion hit back in winning style to return to the top step of the podium in the final race of the weekend at Oulton Park. Brookes’ win puts him just ahead of his teammate Christian Iddon with the pair separated by two points ahead of this weekend.

As was proven at Oulton Park, the order can change drastically and someone who is keen to take advantage is Tommy Bridewell. The Oxford Products Racing Ducati rider holds fifth place in the standings and knows a resurgent performance this weekend will be key to his title hopes, at a circuit where he was victorious earlier in the season on the National configuration.

Tarran Mackenzie and Kyle Ryde are next in the standings ahead of the weekend with the pairing both hoping to replicate their race winning form from earlier in their campaigns as the Donington Park event is the home round for Mackenzie and also for Ryde’s Buildbase Suzuki team.

Just five points further adrift of Ryde is 2020 Bennetts BSB’s tenth different podium finisher, Lee Jackson. The Rapid Fulfillment FS-3 Kawasaki rider claimed a third place last time out and is now eager to maintain that momentum. Likewise, his teammate Danny Buchan was a double podium finisher at Oulton Park and the pair will be determined for a repeat performance this weekend.

Jackson holds a ten-point advantage over Andrew Irwin; the double race winner from the first visit to Donington Park to open the season and the Honda Racing rider will be anticipating a strong performance this weekend.

The BMW teams will also be hopeful of a bigger points haul this weekend with Bradley Ray currently heading the way for SYNETIQ BMW. However, Rich Energy OMG Racing BMW’s Héctor Barberá will be hopeful that circuit knowledge could work in his favour this weekend and multiple IDM Superbike and 2018 European Superstock champion Markus Reiterberger joins Peter Hickman at Global Robots BMW, to make his Bennetts BSB debut.

Watch the racing live on free to air Quest HD, Eurosport 2 and Eurosport.com

Source: Eight different race winners but who will be crowned Monster Energy King of Donington