Shane ‘Shakey’ Byrne will be fighting a host of international rivals for his seventh race victory of the season this weekend when the popular British Superbike Championship comes to Brands Hatch.

Byrne, chasing a record-breaking fourth MCE BSB title on his Rapid Solicitors Kawasaki, goes into Sunday’s two races on the full-length Brands Hatch Grand Prix circuit with a 79-point lead over his closest title rival, Australia’s Josh Brookes.

The Kent rider said: “There is always a certain air of expectation for me to do well at Brands Hatch and the Grand Prix circuit produces fantastic racing.

“But I treat the race like any of the others – we will work as hard as we possibly can to achieve the two best results possible.

“With me loving the circuit, and it being only half-an-hour from my home, I’m hopeful of two strong results.”

July’s round of the BSB, popularly known as the Big Brands bash, is traditionally the Kent circuit’s biggest event of the summer.

The four-day programme starts today with a Monster Energy Fans’ Thursday, with free admission from midday on the day to autograph sessions, rider interviews by Eurosport’s Matt Roberts, access to the pitlane as the teams set-up for the weekend, and a fans’ track walk.

Tomorrow the circuit hosts free practice and timed qualifying sessions, with more qualifying and four races on Saturday, then the two MCE BSB races and a bustling programme of support races on Sunday.

The weekend also features live music on the campsite on Saturday evening, free-of-charge to all valid MCE BSB ticket holders, headlined by former World Superbike champion James Toseland and his band.

For more information, or to book tickets, visit brandshatch.co.uk or call 0843 453 9000.

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