Connor hoping to make an impression

12:00pm Friday 2nd May 2008

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A NORTHWICH teenager joins the big boys on the British Superbike bill at Oulton Park this weekend.

Connor Behan races in the second round of the Relentless 125GP British Championship with two wins at his home circuit under his belt already this season.

"I'm ready for the big one now," he vowed this week.

The 16-year-old got some valuable track time in two races at the New Era Club Bike Championships on Saturday, finishing both more than 20 seconds clear of his nearest rival.

He smashed his own personal best time in the process.

And Behan, who endured a disappointing opening round at Thruxton a fortnight ago, is keen to make up for it in front of his family and friends on Bank Holiday Monday.

"I want to be up there with the front runners," he said.

Meanwhile the Bennetts British Superbike Championship finally kicked off last week with two incident-packed races.

Shane Shakey Byrne on the Airwaves Ducati and HM Plant Honda's Cal Crutchlow left Thruxton joint championship leaders after taking a victory apiece, with Michael Rutter taking his first double podium since 2005 for the North West 200 Ducati team.

Karl Harris will be returning to the grid despite his massive crash at Thruxton that saw him knocked from his Rob Mac Racing Yamaha by Tom Sykes' flying Rizla Suzuki.

Oulton Park was voted the fans' favourite bike circuit in 2007 and it traditionally provides the closest race finishes of the season with some of the most memorable races in the history of British Superbikes taking place at the Little Budworth circuit.

With Byrne and Crutchlow currently joint at the top of the standings and the likes of Harris, Sykes and Leon Haslam fired up to make amends for a disappointing start to their title campaigns, it will be a superbike showdown from Saturday.

The Bennetts British Superbike Championship heads to Oulton Park on May 3 through to May 5.

Entry is from £22 for adults, with free admission for accompanied U12s.

For further details, call 0870 950 9000.