British Superbikes Showdown, Brands Hatch: Rider quotes, TV schedule, odds

Well, the Title Fighters - the top six from the regular season - are as follows.

Leon Haslam (JG Speedfit Kawasaki): 612pts

Josh Brookes (Anvil Hire Tag Yamaha): 580pts

Shane Byrne (Be Wiser Ducati): 579pts

Jake Dixon (RAF Regular and Reserves Kawasaki): 558pts

Peter Hickman (Smiths Racing BMW): 549pts

Jason O'Halloran (Honda Racing): 526pts

The top six were decided through number of race wins, with 25 points for the victor and then 20, 16, 13, 11, 10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1 awarded to the next 14 riders.

In The Showdown, the Title Fighters were awarded 500 points plus extra points for each podium place they have achieved until that stage – 5 for a win, 3 for second and 1 for third. The original scoring system then resumed for the final three Showdown events.

With O'Halloran mathematically out of the picture and, given the scoring system outlined above, Hickman and Dixon unlikely to mount a serious challenge, there are only really three riders who have a chance of winning: Haslam, who has never won the title; Byrne the five-time winner, who is racing on his home track; and Brookes, the 2015 champion who has got increasingly strong as the season has progressed.

“I need to win the first race on Saturday because I don’t want to go into the final races and be scrapping through," said the 34-year-old. "In the past I have always been coming from behind in the standings when I have missed out.

“Brands Hatch has an unbelievable atmosphere – on those last few races there are going to be some big moves being made, I really can’t wait to get started!”

"The emphasis at Brands Hatch is going to be more for me to win and then hope that we are lucky as mathematically there is a gap in the points between myself and Leon," Brookes told Britishsuperbike.com.

“We can only focus on the job we can do and that is to go to Brands Hatch and try and win all three races. Any position this season is hard to achieve as it is so close but we need to bring the most energy, focus and determination to Brands Hatch and hope that we have that luck."

“I am really looking forward to Brands Hatch; everyone knows how much I love the Grand Prix circuit," said Shakey. "In some ways I guess the pressure has gone a bit. I have been in a position before when there has been nothing between us in the points and the pressure to beat a certain rider or finish in a certain position is immense.

“Realistically all I can do is my best and I always want to go and win races and there are three chances of that at Brands Hatch.

You can watch all of the Showdown finale on Eurosport and Eurosport Player this weekend. Here are the details:

Saturday 14 October
1200-1400 LIVE qualifying on Eurosport 2
1530-1800 LIVE race one on Eurosport 2 and Quest.
2100-2230 Day one highlights on Eurosport 2

Sunday 15 October
1230-1715 LIVE raceday on Eurosport 2 and Quest
2000-2130 Raceday highlights on Eurosport 2

All of the action is also available via the Eurosport Player

Here is the TV guide for more information.

Haslam: 1/14

Byrne: 12/1

Brookes: 16/1

Hickman: 500/1

Dixon: 500/1

The odds tell the story: Haslam is clear favourite and only a huge shock will prevent him from taking his maiden title. But, as he says, the first race is key. If he fails to finish, which has happened a few times this season, and Byrne or Brookes wins, the title race will be blown wide open once more.