Honda Racing UK looking forward to Brands Hatch season finale
This weekend (15-17 October) the Honda Racing UK team heads to Brands Hatch for the 2021 Bennetts British Superbike Championship season finale aiming for glory, as Tom Neave leads the way in the Pirelli National Superstock Championship with the CBR1000RR-R Fireblade SP.
Landing the championship top-spot after the sixth round at Cadwell Park, Tom has fended off challenges from his rivals and goes into the final round with a strong 22-point lead and just one race on Sunday to decide the 2021 season.
Honda Racing's Superbike contenders will be aiming to finish the season off in style at the 2.4-mile Kent circuit, with Glenn Irwin sitting eighth overall in the Showdown standings. For Ryo Mizuno and Takumi Takahashi, it will be the second time they have raced at Brands Hatch, and after mixed results earlier in the year they’ll be looking towards the top-15 and scoring final points to round off the year.
Superbike first practice gets underway at 12:45 on Friday 15 October, with Race 1 taking place on Saturday, and Race 2 and Race 3 on Sunday – the final Superstock race takes place Sunday at 14:30. Click here for the full weekend timetable.
Glenn Irwin
I'm looking forward to the weekend and the final races of the year. For me the target this weekend is to improve on our results at Brands Hatch and make that step forward. We are going to be limited with my shoulder and we're prepared for that, but we will use the weekend to test and develop a few things, as we're in a position in the championship where we can afford to do this. I'm looking forward to trying the new ideas that we have, getting stuck in and aiming for the best results we can to finish the 2021 season.
Ryo Mizuno
I'm surprised that it's already the last round, but it's been a short season. From the official test to this final round, it was like a year of non-stop racing. At the start of the season, everything was a surprise and I was frustrated by the shocks and my inability to do well at each circuit. The Silverstone and Donington Park GP have been the most rewarding races of the year for me. I hope to have a good race at Brands Hatch this weekend to end the season on a high note, and to have fun while doing it.
Takumi Takahashi
I'm feeling good and I am ready to race this weekend. I have felt the difficulty because of the high level this season, but I have learned I need a different style of racing compared to how I have raced before. My aim for this final round is to finish the year with a good result and a smile on my face.
Tom Neave
This year has gone so quick, it’s flown by, but it’s been an amazing year. I feel like we have really stepped it up from all angles and I’ve enjoyed every minute of it. This weekend I’m just going to keep doing what we’ve been doing, not overthinking too much about the end goal and giving it all I have and enjoying my racing. The aim of the weekend is to keep out of trouble, we still have a job to do but I’m trying not to think about that too much and I can’t wait to see what will come of it now.