Why I love BSB's Showdown

It has lovers, haters and even many that still don't understand it but everyone in British bike racing is currently talking about the BSB Showdown.  With my rider's or team manager's hat on, I wasn't convinced when it was first announced in 2010 but I'm now totally converted and enjoy every part of the season as intensity increases.  And being a value for money Scot the best thing is you get four championships under one umbrella. 

Championship # 1; In the early rounds everyone on the grid has aspirations of taking the title but as the season progresses, the focus narrows down to making sure you secure that top six showdown spot over the first nineteen races (riders can also drop their worst two results). 

Championship #2; For the confident front runners, over these races, the real goal is the podium credit championship (3 for 1st ,2 for 2nd,1 for 3rd) which then gives them a points head start after things are put back to zero for the final seven race shoot-out. 

Championship #3; The best of the rest championship (7th and below) that will be battled over the final races.

Championship # 4;  Over the final seven races the British Superbike Champion is crowned.

The recent adding and reshuffling a few top name riders for the Showdown has already spiced things up so hold on tight for the remaining five races!

Complicated? A little. Interesting? Yes. Exciting? Definitely!

One rider that should have easily made the top six is twenty year old New Yorker PJ Jacobson.  PJ and his Tyco Suzuki Team have had some incredibly cruel luck this year but this kid is the real deal.  He had as close as it gets to a level playing field last week at Assen and he was on it from the first free practice.  He eventually went home with his podium finish of the season but I predict it won't be his last this year, so please watch this space. 

By Niall Mackenzie