It's the big finish at Brands finale gets underway....

British Superbikes, by Zoe Burn

IT seems like just two minutes ago when we all headed south to Brands Hatch as the 2008 season started in earnest - yet here we are seven months later with just two days until the chequered flag falls for the last time.

And when the final Superbike does cross the line at around 5pm on Sunday afternoon, it will be the end of an era as we bid a fond farewell to some of the UK's top riders.

In the biggest shake-up BSB has seen for some years, many of the fans favourites will wave goodbye this weekend, as they head out to the world scene.

Newly-crowned champ Shane "Shakey" Byrne is looking to end his stint with Airwaves Ducati on a high on his local track.

"It's my home circuit, and I can just go out there and enjoy myself knowing that the Championship is mine," he said. "I really hope I can sign the season off in style and I'm going to be pushing 100% to get back onto the top step of the podium."

But Shakey is going to have his work cut out. The battle for the runner-up spot looks set to be a corker, and on a track as tiny as the Indy circuit, it's all to play for.

Leon "Pocket Rocket" Haslam is another man heading abroad next year, and having been pipped to the title by Byrne, the HM Plant Honda man will be taking no prisoners.

"Winning is what it is all about and and I want to end the season with a double, ending on a real high - my aim at the start of the season was the title, but now I want to be the best of the rest. In the last four rounds I've been the top scorer and I am keen to continue that to make up for the bad start I had to the season." he said.

Meanwhile Rizla Suzuki's Tom "Grinnner" Sykes could still nab P2 from under the nose of Haslam before he too goes to the World stage

"I am going there in the mind set to win the races," said Sykes. "I need to at least beat Leon Haslam as we want the runner-up spot in the standings rather than third."

Haslam's team-mate Cal Crutchlow - who heads to World Supersport in 09 - believes he too has unfinished business

"I desperately want to end this year on a high and for me a win at least would be the best way to sign-off things in the UK but I will be doing everything I can to do the double."

These guys may be set for a battle royale among themselves, but more pressure is sure to come from riders like Michael Rutter, James Ellison and Karl Harris, as everyone bids to end 08 with that all-important win.