Suzuki pair face world's best

The two front-runners in the British Superbike Championship, John Reynolds and Yukio Kagayama, are set to take on the best in the world later this year.

The Rizla Suzuki team-mates will compete in both British rounds of the World Superbike Championship - at Silverstone in June and at Brands Hatch in July - after being given wild cards for the events.

The team will be supported by the Suzuki factory as they adjust their bikes to comply with the slightly different rules on the world stage - and Reynolds believes he is capable of winning.

The former British Superbike champion said: "Racing in World Superbikes gives us a chance to prove ourselves at the highest possible level.

"I have won at World Superbike level before and I know I can do it again. We have tested the GSX-R1000 with the air restrictors you have to run in World Superbikes and I couldn't tell the difference.

"This bike is definitely good enough to win and I'm sure the World Superbike races will bring the best out in our team."

Kagayama added: "I have always wanted to race in World Superbikes and I am very happy now.

"We have tested our bikes for these races and I think we will be very competitive, our bikes are already very fast.

"I will race at both Silverstone and Brands Hatch in British Superbikes before the World Superbike races and I think learning the tracks will not be a problem. I want to try to win or take a podium."