Thousands of spectators will descend on Knockhill racing circuit over the next two days as some of the world’s best motorbike racers take to the track.
The British Superbike Championship is back after a break of more than a month and the top riders were out in free practice sessions yesterday ahead of the qualifying and the two main 30-lap races on Sunday.
If those were anything to go by, fans can expect a fierce battle for the podium places as the championship contenders aim to fire themselves up the overall standings.
Championship leader Alex Lowes set the pace in the opening practice session, picking up where he left off at the previous round at Oulton Park to see off Samsung Honda team-mate and former champion Ryuichi Kiyonari.
Shane Byrne, the defending champion aboard his Rapid Solicitors Kawasaki, goes into this weekend just a point behind Lowes in the standings and followed in fourth in his first practice session.
Fellow title fighters Josh Brookes (Tyco Suzuki), James Ellison (Milwaukee Yamaha), Jon Kirkham (Buildbase BMW), Chris Walker (Quattro Plant Kawasaki) and James Westmoreland (Buildbase BMW) will also be among those hoping for strong qualifying sessions as they seek to close the gap on Lowes at the top after Sunday’s action.
As well as the Superbike racing, which is scheduled to go at 1pm and 4.15pm, Knockhill has laid on a full supporting schedule which will feature many local riders.
This weekend’s meeting has been named after Scottish motorsport legend Steve Hislop, who was killed in a helicopter crash near his Hawick home 10 years ago.
Fellow Scots Niall Mackenzie and Stuart Easton, as well as friend and rival James Whitham, will perform laps on bikes from the Hislop era by way of a tribute on Sunday morning.
Photo by David Wardle