Two rounds mean four races and Jonathan faces his first test on Sunday at Donington Park. If he manages to grab two successes at Donington then he'll be a "new man" for the final charge up the hill at Brands Hatch.

Rea is totally focused on this championship even though he will soon be entering hospital for an operation on his right knee.

"The operation comes at the end of the British series and as far as I'm concerned my intention is to enter hospital with the British title under my belt and one hell of a hangover!"

You can't blame Rea for his positive mood for he has had a season to remember in which he and his team mate Riyuchi Kayonari have dominated the championship.

In fact at one stage, Rea wistfully told me, the Ulster rider was in the lead for something like two hours between races at Mallory Park.

But of course that didn't last and now the situation is that Kayonari is a hot favourite with a 41-point lead over Rea.

Rea however continues to be bullish about his chances and says: "I've not given up yet. If I should manage to get four wins in the last four races and something happens to Kayonari then I'll be the new title holder.

"This is not pie in the sky as far as I'm concerned.

"You have to be positive in this game and there's no one more positive than I am."

Rea however will sadly as far as Ulster fans are concerned miss the Sunflower Trophy which he won last year at Bishopscourt and ended up with a fabulous treble.

"I'd like to have raced in front of the home fans but it is not to be," said Rea.

"The operation comes at a bad time as far as my race planning is concerned after the British championship but let's face it, the important thing is that I win the title.

"After that I'll be concentrating on next year's Supersport championship and hopefully I will manage a place in the first three.

"It's a bit like racing in unknown territory but you never know what might happen."

Rea is riding for a Dutch team and has massive backing in his efforts to land the title.

Back to the British Superbike and Rea points out that he would nearly have won this championship but for a few disasters along the way. "I was taken out at Cadwell Park but fought back and won the second race. In addition I had two crashes at Mallory and at Owton and if I had picked up points there who knows where I would have been in relation to Kayonari.

"As it is I'll keep fighting to the end. My back is to the wall but I'm not going to give up easily.

"I care a lot about winning and I'm naturally hopefully that Kayonari makes some mistakes. You never know what can happen at this level."

Meanwhile a fellow Ulsterman looks to have a much easier task when he rides in the British Supersport championship.

This is Michael Laverty who is just home from a trip to California and who will be concentrating on a win at the weekend Donington Affair.

It looks very much as though Laverty will lift the title for he has led throughout and a fourth place would just about give him his first British championship.

Laverty has been a model of consistency and but for an unfortunate coming together at Mondello where he didn't finish he would nearly have the whole lot wrapped up. As it is he is a hot favourite.

Ian Lawry who is in third place could end up runner-up and this would be a wonderful result for the PAS Suzuki team who are behind both riders.