    |
 |
|
|
|
New Zealanders get very excited when 109,000 people watch the All Blacks in Sydney - imagine an event with 120,000 Britons urging on a Kiwi hero in his comeback from life-threatening illness.
That\'s the scenario this weekend as Aaron Slight continues his fightback from brain surgery, at the Brands Hatch round of the world superbike champs near London.
Runner-up in the two race legs here last year, the Kiwi-born expat believes the circuit provides his best chance of getting back among the leaders this year.
\"I like Brands Hatch, it suits my riding style,\" said the 34-year-old as he arrived from his Monaco home to prepare for the event, round 10 in the series.
\"I\'ve not been on the podium since my comeback from the surgery, but this track is where it\'s likely to happen.\"
Slight, twice world championship runner-up in an illustrious career, is out of contention this year after his illness kept him from the early rounds.
\"I\'m still very much in recovery mode, slowly getting back to full pace,\" said the man from Masterton.
\"I tire easily during the day - my best lap times come in morning practice and qualifying but I\'m feeling a bit jaded by mid-afternoon.\"
\"That can be quite frustrating when I know I can do better, but the surgeons told me this would happen and it\'s just a matter of being patient.\"
Slight says his situation points up the competitiveness of the superbike championship.
\"I\'m just two or three tenths of a second a lap off the pace of the leaders, but that translates to about fifth or sixth place in this field.\"
Slight is assured of solid support in his first Brands Hatch ride since his comeback: he is well liked in England where his Castrol Honda team is based. And this year the fans don\'t have their local hero to cheer on, with Slight\'s longtime rival Carl Fogarty sidelined by injury.
\"Foggy is always huge here but the best he\'ll be doing is a demonstration lap. The fans will go ape, they always do,\" Slight said.
\"So long as they keep some cheering for me.\"
Slight will again be riding support for his American teammate Colin Edwards, winner of both legs here last year, who leads the 2000 championship on the booming Honda VTR.
The 1999 Brands Hatch race was the biggest one-day sporting attendance in Britain with 120,000 fans. Ticket pre-sales this year suggest it will be matched or bettered, with air displays, fireworks and other entertainment on the bill.
The two race legs will be held early Monday morning NZ time, live on Sky Sport.
Championship points after nine of 13 rounds:
1 Edwards 265,
2 Troy Corser (Australia) Aprilia 247,
3 Nori Haga (Japan) Yamaha 232,
4 Frankie Chili (Italy) Suzuki 190,
5 Ben Bostrom (USA) Ducati 153,
6 Akira Yanagawa (Japan) Kawasaki 151,
7 Troy Bayliss (Australia) Ducati 142,
8 Kat Fujiwara (Japan) Suzuki 110,
9 Slight 98,
10 Gregorio Lavilla (Spain) Kawasaki and Andy
Meklau (Austria) Ducati 71.
