Image: BSB.

The MCE Insurance British Superbike Championship is back this weekend on 19-21 June and as the contenders head to Snetterton, Australian Josh Brookes is targeting his first win of the season after setting the fastest ever lap of the Norfolk circuit during the recent test.

Tens of thousands of fans are set to descend on the circuit and Brookes is full focused on turning his podium-finishing form into a victory with the next generation Milwaukee Yamaha YZF-R1. The Australian demolished the circuit record and has high hopes of holding off his rivals in Norfolk.

“We have been making really good progress with the bike and I wouldn’t have expected to go so far under the lap record as we have, but it has come together right,” Brookes said. “Should the other guys be concerned? I know that if I was in that position myself I would have some thoughts and consideration towards it, but really we can’t get too complacent either.

“We have to keep our head down and we know Snetterton is going to be a good circuit for us as we proved at the test. Snetterton is considered to be a horsepower important track with the long back straight and the climb up the front straight and I know there are a lot of corners on the infield section, so it has to come as a package.”

There have already been four different race winners from the opening six races and the Milwaukee Yamaha team are determined to add Brookes to that list. However championship leader James Ellison arrives full of confidence and with a marginal eight-point advantage over closest rival and defending champion Shane ‘Shakey’ Byrne.

Ellison and the JG Speedfit Kawasaki team have scored three of the six wins so far and are determined to carry that momentum into the fourth round. Byrne meanwhile is ready to come out fighting to return to the top step of the podium. The record-breaking champion hasn’t scored a victory since the opening round in April and after a collision with Ryuichi Kiyonari last time out.

Kiyonari has endured a torrid start to his season and has failed to score a podium finish, but the Buildbase BMW rider has scored more victories at Snetterton than any of his rivals in previous years and knows he needs to return to the podium this weekend.

Stuart Easton and Tommy Bridewell both scored their first wins of 2015 at Oulton Park to move themselves into the top six in the standings ahead of this weekend and the pair will be pushing for more in their quest for all-important podium points ahead of the title-deciding Showdown later in the season.

Honda Racing return with their full line-up as Dan Linfoot is back on the grid alongside Jason O’Halloran and Jenny Tinmouth after recovering from a broken wrist he sustained at the second round of the season at Brands Hatch.

The event will also feature a special appearance from Grand Prix legend Giacomo Agostini. The illustrious 15-time world champion will be supporting Italian manufacturer MV Agusta’s campaign and attending an official ceremony to formally inaugurate the corner of the track named in his honour.