THE premier national bike championship in the world comes to Brands Hatch, near West Kingsdown, on Saturday and Sunday. The British Superbike Championship consistently produces exciting head-to-head bike racing action.

Last year saw the championship go down to the wire with John Reynolds and Steve Hislop swapping the lead race-by-race, until Hislop's massive fall at Rockingham finally handed the title to his rival.

This year's opening rounds at Silverstone proved fantastically competitive, with the first win going to Sean Emmett (IFC Racing Ducati) by just 0.3 of a second from the Monstermob Ducati of Hislop. Steve Plater brought the Virgin Mobile Aiwa Yamaha home third, ahead of John Reynolds, having his debut ride on the Rizla Racing Suzuki.

The second race went to Hislop from a determined Reynolds, with Emmett having to settle for third ahead of the Renegade Ducati of Michael Rutter.

Shane Byrne, the 2001 Privateer Champion, got his season off to a shaky start. A fifth in the first race was followed by disaster in the second as he failed to finish. He will be determined for an improvement as the championship moves on to Brands Hatch, the home circuit for the Sittingbourne rider.

Honda, with the pairing of the young Gary Mason and the highly successful Matt Llewellyn, John Crawford (Suzuki), Darren Barton (Yamaha), Jamie Robinson (Suzuki), Gordon Blackley (Honda) and Jason Davis (Suzuki) will all be out to make an impression on the packed grid.

For ticket sales contact Octagon Motorsports, 01327 850140 or visit www.octagonmotorsports.com or www.britishsuperbike.com