Leon Haslam starts the Bennetts British Superbike Championship season finale with an outside chance of adding a second crown to his 2018 title victory, as the stage is set for the Brands Hatch Showdown finale next weekend (17/18/19 October).

The Moto Rapido Ducati Racing team arrive holding third in the championship standings with a maximum of 105 points up for the taking across the three races on the Grand Prix circuit next weekend. Haslam obviously knows how quick fortunes can change in the final battle for the crown, having experienced the heartbreak in 2017, before rebounding to claim the title in 2018.

Haslam and the Moto Rapido Ducati Racing team have been the highest points scorers over the previous two Showdown rounds at the TT Circuit Assen and also Oulton Pak, but arrives at the finale determined to add to his podium tally, which has gained serious momentum in recent rounds.

Haslam said: “Obviously the last few rounds have been really positive, we’ve been the highest scorers at both Assen and Oulton Park. I’ve scored the most points out of everyone and we’ve battled for the win in pretty much every race.

“There’s obviously still the niggle of being beaten on the last lap a couple of times, but from my side of things, we have to take the positives of the results we’ve achieved. We’re one of only three that can win the championship and yes, I’m a little bit of an outsider with how much further back I am from the other two on the Yamahas.

“For me, Brands Hatch mid-season was a tough weekend, so I want to try and finish the season on a high, get another win and aim for the podiums. We’ll wait and see, anything can happen in the championship and at the minute we’re still in with a chance to win it, so if we can finish the year out with a few podiums and we’ll see what happens with the other guys. We’ll still be in the top three of the championship.”

Bradley Ray is ready to take the fight for the 2025 Bennetts British Superbike Championship down to the wire next weekend at Brands Hatch (17/18/19 October), as the 2022 title-winner prepares to fight back to overhaul Kyle Ryde’s 30 point advantage with a maximum of 105 available from the final three races.

Ray had a dominant start to the season for Raceways Yamaha and together they have celebrated 12 race wins and a total of 19 podiums on his return to the series. Ray was victorious at the Kent circuit back in the summer and now is fired up for the final fight next weekend after delivering one of the most sensational race wins of the season last time out at Oulton Park.

Ray said: “I am feeling good going into the final round. Brands Hatch was a good round for me mid-season, so I’m looking forward to getting there. The feelings are a little bit different to 2022, which was my first chance of being British Superbike champion and I went there with quite a big lead, so the feeling is a little bit different.

“The championship for me has been really good, it’s been successful, I’ve had a lot of wins, a lot of podiums, but mid-season I had a few small issues which were out of our control and outside of the team’s control, which hindered me for a few rounds, so a little bit of a shame about that.

“Oulton Park was super good, race one was very tricky as we were the only one on the soft wet tyre, so unfortunately hit reverse in the race and just had to bring it home and score as many points as possible. But Sunday was special. I felt really back to myself and really relaxed on the bike and fast and to come away with a win and a second was what we needed to keep the championship alive.

“Honestly, I feel quite relaxed going into the weekend so we’ll try and give it our all and I’m really excited to head back to Brands Hatch. It’s a track I enjoy, obviously being back down south I get a lot of support from family and friends and it’s such a unique venue so it’s even more special. I feel happy going back there and the support is always really nice.

“It’s going to be a tough three races at Brands Hatch and it’s October, but I feel prepared for all conditions, and we’ll try to do our best job. It’s going to be hard, they’ll be a few riders in the mix. Kyle obviously, Tommy will be there, Scott will obviously be fast, Leon will be looking to be strong, Rory, so they’ll be quite a few in the mix. I’m looking forward to a bit of a dogfight there so yeah.

“I’m just approaching the final round like every other weekend, I feel really relaxed and really happy with the team. Honestly, I feel that the pressure is on Kyle to deliver, I have a good thirty point gap to try and close down, but going up to thirty-five points for a win means anything can happen, we’ve seen it in the past.

“For me it’s a case of going out and doing the best job I can, that means for me, winning races and be on the podium, that’s the first goal. I just want to enjoy every lap of the weekend and give it my absolute best and come out the weekend with my head held high. We will try to do the best to lift the trophy, but I’m feeling good and I can’t wait to keep going for these last three races.

“I am just super proud of the team and myself this year; it’ll be unbelievable to win the title for Steve, for Raceways and for all the team, sponsors and family. It would be unbelievable to lift the title for the second time; we will be giving it everything until the last race.”

Kyle Ryde arrives at Brands Hatch this weekend ready to fight for the final time in the 2025 Bennetts British Superbike Championship, with just three races standing between him becoming the first rider to successfully defend their title since 2017.

Ryde returns to Kent with a 30-point advantage over home contender Bradley Ray, overhauling his advantage earlier in the season to take the fight down to the wire in the final three races of the season. 105 points remain up for the taking this weekend as the pair lead the tussle for the title with Leon Haslam still in mathematical contention too as the countdown continues to the decider.

Ryde said: “I’m feeling good about this weekend. I have been riding good and I’ve put myself in a good position, so I’m looking forward to it. I won my first British title at Brands Hatch last year, so I’m looking forward to it, it is a special place for me.

“I think it’s going to be a great finale, Brad has obviously had a great Oulton Park Sunday and pulled a few points back, so he’ll be feeling good. I feel good as I rode really well there earlier in the year and with arguably one of the best races ever there last year, so I know I can ride round that track pretty well! It’s going to be a fast weekend for sure, but they’ll be a lot of strategic races from my side and obviously from Brad’s too so we just need to go out and go as fast as I can.

“Brands Hatch last time there was four of us last time, me, Brad, Danny and Scott and then the next person was Christian, he will also want to finish the year strong and he can hang in there easily. Obviously, Leon has pretty much secured third place so that takes a bit of pressure of him, so he’ll be quick, so there will be five or six of us I think. Me and Brad are all on our own, no wingmen like last year and hopefully we’ll get through the weekend and everyone will shake hands after and have a beer and remember how good the season has been for all of us.

Last season Ryde had led the standings into the final round by just four points before the winner takes all final between himself and Tommy Bridewell, in a contest that was labelled as the ‘Race of the Decade’ – and the stage is set for more of the same this weekend.

“It feels completely different compared to last year! My goal was to be British champion again this year and retain my title, but after the first few months it was about trying to put a bit of pressure on Brad so it didn’t look embarrassing,” added Ryde. “I did that and now we are here and so I’m proud of myself for that. Now I just need to finish the job off and regardless of what happens I feel proud of what we have done this year.

“I’m just happy that I’m consistently fast; I made the Showdown in 2022, I was third in 2023 and then won last year. I’m going to Brands Hatch to do the best I can. I am not really thinking about back-to-back titles – it’s not an easy thing to do. We are just going to keep doing what we have been doing and I’m just proud of myself to be here and with the chance of being able to do it again with the team.”