BSB: Thruxton Preview: Expect the unexpected

British Superbikes heads to Hampshire for the 7th round of the season, with Thruxton awaiting a thrashing by numerous top quality riders, of which more or less all of them could achieve a podium. Having come from Brands Hatch where Josh Brookes took a hard-fought double, we head to a circuit where himself and Peter Hickman shared the spoils last year. Thruxton is a pretty strange circuit and throws up weird results, so expect the unexpected come Sunday.

Leon Haslam may well be the championship leader but he had never won at Brands Hatch GP and he has never won at Thruxton. Just one podium from his last eight races at the circuit suggest that this is the perfect opportunity for him to be closed in on in the championship. It was a very good damage limitation job two weeks ago and he may need to do the same again this weekend. One mistake and it can all go wrong.

Jake Dixon was off the podium in both Brands Hatch races two weeks ago, the first time since race two at Oulton Park that the Dover-ace had been away from the rostrum. However, two fourth-place finishes were good enough and he remains 2nd in the championship. Coming to a circuit at which he was 3rd and 2nd at last season, Dixon could do with the same again and a move towards the championship lead. Don’t rule him out just yet for race wins.

Glenn Irwin took his first ever BSB podium at Thruxton back in 2016 and he will be looking to continue his podium form on from Brands Hatch. The Ulsterman and three time NW200 winner is going to be looking at race wins, of that there is no doubt. Can the Ducati achieve that? As a manufacturer, they’ve only won two of the last 20 races in the Superbike class so the statistics are against them. But this is BSB, where literally anything can happen.

Josh Brookes’ well timed double win at Brands Hatch means he is propelled into 4th place, having been outside the Showdown coming into the last meeting. Thruxton is a circuit that the popular Australian absolutely loves, with seven wins and two doubles – five wins have come in the last six races that he has competed in at the circuit. I’m backing Josh to do the business this weekend, he may well start his charge to a 2nd BSB title.

Brad Ray had a mare at Brands Hatch but will be looking to be revitalised for the Thruxton round. The Kid from Lydd is fresh off the back of placing inside the top ten at the Suzuka 8 Hour and whilst he will have to readjust to his somewhat different BSB-spec Suzuki, Brad will be hoping of a return to the top five to remind everyone that he did the double at Donington Park based on skill and not on luck.

The final rider in the Showdown so far is reigning National Superstock 1000 champion Danny Buchan, who is proving his doubters completely wrong this season. Whilst only securing two podiums, he is one of just two riders in the entire field that has finished every race inside the points and that is something that is working in his advantage. Thruxton was a blast for him last year and he will be looking to deliver on the Superbike. As long as him and Tommy Bridewell don’t get too close at the final chicane, he should be on for yet another cracking weekend.

Other riders to keep your eyes on will be Richard Cooper, who was riding very well at Brands Hatch. Tommy Bridewell and the MotoRapido Ducati team are at their “home circuit” so expect some good riding from them. You can never rule out the likes of Luke Mossey, who has a point to prove and the Tyco BMW pairing of Christian Iddon and Michael Laverty, of which the latter has been a race winner for the outfit at Thruxton before. Other names include Chrissy Rouse who is gaining confidence all the time, James Ellison who is in need of a result, last year’s race two winner Peter Hickman and Martin Jessopp, who has had top tens at the Thruxton circuit every year since 2015.