Paul Bird’s VisionTrack Ducati British Superbike Championship team arrive at round three of the 2021 Bennetts British Superbike Championship at Brands Hatch looking to add to their winning ways.
The eight times and defending champions saw Christian Iddon score the Penrith-based team’s first victory of the season at Knockhill in the last round which propelled him to the lead in the standings.
Iddon, originally from Stockport but now based on Tyneside, added to his triple podium placings at the opening round at Oulton Park and goes into the first of two visits this season to the Kent track with a six-point lead over Jason O’Halloran.
VisionTrack PBM Ducati
Last year, Iddon scored a double podium on the Brands Hatch GP track to secure third place in the final championship table so aims to increase his advantage aboard the factory-supported VisionTrack Ducati Panigale V4 RR.
Teammate Josh Brookes has not enjoyed the best start to the season so is hoping that this weekend sees him get his title defence back on track. The Bedfordshire based Aussie has scored a best result of sixth place in the six races held so far to occupy 11th in the standings after two of the 11 rounds.
But if he were to choose anywhere to try to recapture his form, the double Bennetts BSB champion would surely choose Brands Hatch as he has a remarkable record around the GP version of the track. Brookes scored a double on his way to landing the title last October and has won an amazing seven of the last eight races there to rack up 19 victories in total during his UK tenure.
Visiontrack PBM Ducati
And after all of the 2020 season without any crowds at all and only very limited numbers at the opening two rounds so far this season, with the relaxation of government rules as of today, this weekend sees a return to normal with tens of thousands of fans expected to return.
Christian Iddon: “The plan of course is to carry the momentum we have created at the opening two rounds into this weekend and to add to our winning tally. Our set up has proved it works at two very different tracks so I’m hopeful that won’t be any different at Brands Hatch. Certain competitors are very strong there, including my teammate Josh, so I’ve no doubt he and a few others will be fighting at the sharp end. I’m hoping to continue the good start to the season and just keep focusing on the job in hand.”
Josh Brookes: “I look forward to every round and Brands Hatch is no different. Obviously, I have a great record at the track, and I’d love for that to continue. But things haven’t worked out as I’d have liked so far this season, so I’ve discussed it at length with the team and we know we need to turn things around. We had a great setting last year so hopefully we can find what we need and put this poor start to the season behind us.”
Further details can be found at the PBM website: www.pbmuk.net. For details of television broadcast times and channels, please visit www.britishsuperbike.com. BSB Radio will also be broadcasting live via a link on the official website or via live timing at www.tsl-timing.com.
Images courtesy of Double Red: Josh Brookes (1) and Christian Iddon (21)
ENDS
