Synetiq BMW’s Danny Buchan has put himself on the cusp of a BSB Title Showdown spot following a superb - and unexpected - double victory at Cadwell Park on Monday. Though a seasoned front runner in the Bennetts British Superbike Championship, as well as being a Showdown contender in two of the last three campaigns, Buchan looked to be down and out of contention for this year’s eight available spots after disappointing weekends at Brands Hatch and Thruxton.
Leaving him 60 points down on eighth place Tommy Bridewell as he headed to Cadwell Park, the Synetiq rider himself declared his chances to be nil, only to burst back to prominence with a trio of podiums, including back-to-back wins in races two and three on the Bank Holiday Monday.
Marking his fourth and fifth career BSB wins - and his first since Knockhill last year - Buchan was delighted to rediscover some self-belief in what had been something of a disappointing season to date. “It was like a qualifying lap every lap,” Buchan admitted on Monday evening. “I took each lap as it came and I knew once the fuel dropped I would be competitive so I just knew I had to keep it for a few laps, the Synetiq BMW was strong and I just kept my head down and kept going, I was racing myself basically.“The podium was a big monkey off my back, it has not been the greatest of seasons so to get third, the biggest thing is the self belief, you lose that when you are going through tough times so never stop believing.” Ascending from 11th to 9th in the overall standings, Buchan now finds himself just 14 points shy of sneaking into the Title Showdown at the expense of an out-of-form Kyle Ryde. “We will keep digging in,” he confirmed. “The Showdown isn’t over until it is over.