The new Honda Fireblade made a spectacular BSB debut at the Silverstone season opener, riders' Michael Rutter and Ryuichi Kiyonari taking four podium places - 🐼including a race win for Rutter - to grab the early season advantage.

However, the HM Plant backed team will take a step into the u🐻nknown this Easter Monday when the CBR1000RRs line-up at Brands Hatch, a circuit which the machines have never tested at before꧂.

Having taken pole position, a win and a third at Silverstone, 30-year-old Rutter is on a roll, but expects a closer battle this bank holiday weekend.
"It was a big relief to get Silverstone out of the way, because the pressure was on to achieve a good result," admitted the championship leader. "I'm now looking forward to 🅷Brands Hatch even though I'm not a 🎶big fan of the Indy Circuit - I think it's a bit restrictive for Superbike racing.

"We've got a really good set-up for the Fireblade and I think it's goꦏing to work well on the smooth surface at Brands," he added. "I'll obviously be going all-out to win again but I'm expecting the short length of♎ the circuit to make it more difficult and much closer."

Meanwhile, team-mate Kiyonari heads to Bran🍌ds having won hearts and minds with his two second place finishes at Silverstone, on his BSB debut. After a tough part-season in MotoGP last year, it was a performance that proved just why Honda has kept faith in the 21-year-old.

"I really enjoyed my first race in the British Superbike Championship," said the Japanes🍌e. "It was very professional and the fans were very friendly🎃. The team worked hard with me to find a good set-up and I was happy with my results.

"I'm not sure what's going to happen at Brands Hatch yet, although my first experience of the circuit at a track day ended with a bit of a bump," he revealed. "Unfortunately, I was𝓀 in the wrong place at the wrong time and there was oil on the track at Graham Hill Bend!"