HOPKINS AND BROOKES WIN AS SHOWDOWN FOR TITLE INTENSIFIES Results Race one: 1.John Hopkins (Samsung Crescent Racing Suzuki) 2.Michael Laverty (Swan Yamaha) +0.252s 3.Tommy Hill (Swan Yamaha) +0.587s 4.Josh Brookes (Relentless Suzuki by TAS) +0.897s 5.Shane Byrne (HM Plant Honda) +1.473s 6.Graeme Gowland (WFR Honda) +23.767s Race two: 1.Josh Brookes (Relentless Suzuki by TAS) 2.Tommy Hill (Swan Yamaha) +1.633s 3.John Hopkins (Samsung Crescent Racing Suzuki) +1.949s 4.Michael Laverty (Swan Yamaha) +2.110s 5.Shane Byrne (HM Plant Honda) +2.324s 6.Jon Kirkham (Samsung Crescent Racing Suzuki) +2.562s MCE Insurance British Superbike Championship standings ahead of Brands Hatch season finale: 1.John Hopkins (Samsung Crescent Racing Suzuki) 609 2.Shane Byrne (HM Plant Honda) 601 3.Tommy Hill (Swan Yamaha) 568 4.Michael Laverty (Swan Yamaha) 565 5.Josh Brookes (Relentless Suzuki by TAS) 565 6.Ryuichi Kiyonari (HM Plant Honda) 521 Report John Hopkins and Josh Brookes shared the hard fought victories in the penultimate round of the MCE Insurance British Superbike Championship Showdown at Silverstone, leaving the title chase going down to the wire at the final round at Brands Hatch in two weeks’ time. Samsung Crescent Racing Suzuki’s Hopkins was suffering from intense pain following further surgery to the badly broken finger on his right hand, but was soon settled into pressurising Swan Yamaha’s pole starter Michael Laverty for the first half of the opening race. Tommy Hill riding the second Swan Yamaha was running third ahead of HM Plant Honda’s Shane Byrne who was benefitting from radical changes made to his bike after qualifying as he headed off Relentless Suzuki’s Josh Brookes. Hopkins was not content with running second and was closing down Laverty before diving ahead of him at Stowe on the ninth lap and held off a return attack to take his fifth victory of the season by a quarter of a second. “It was a good win but hard to get ahead of Michael and when I did I was not able to make the break away from him,” explained Hopkins. “The pain was severe at the end of the race and I racing with a special glove that I had made to protect the finger. If you want to win the championship, then you have to keep going.” Hill took third place ahead of Brookes and Byrne with Graeme Gowland a stunning sixth as he won the Mirror.co.uk BSB-EVO class race aboard his WFR Honda. Brookes had earned pole start for the second race of the afternoon, having earlier set the fastest race lap, but he was slow off the line, running seventh on the opening lap but then carved his way through the pack. Laverty had again made the break but Hopkins was leading on the second lap and coming under pressure from Byrne who had forced ahead of both Laverty and Hill with Peter Hickman and Jon Kirkham making life difficult for Brookes. The Aussie though had taken them both inside six laps and was focussed on the leading quartet. Byrne led for two laps but then Hopkins went back in front, and then Hill led but the threat from Brookes was growing and he swept into the lead at Club before going on to take his second victory of the season as the red flags came out on the final lap due to the Kawasaki of Chris Walker blowing its engine. “That was one of the sweetest wins of my career, I’m overwhelmed by how good it feels to get out there and fight for it and win it. I didn’t want to get criticised for making some harsh moves but then I got angry and went for it,” explained Brookes as he reflected on his victory by 1.633secs ahead of Hill and Hopkins with Laverty fourth from Byrne. Hopkins despite his discomfort extended to eight points his advantage over Hill as they go into the triple race finale to decide the champion at Brands Hatch in two weeks time. Gowland completed his daily double in the BSB-EVO class but his WFR Honda team-mate Glen Richards, second to him in each of the races sealed that title. For more information please visit www.britishsuperbike.com More, from a press release issued by Swan Yamaha: PODIUM FINISHES FOR SWAN YAMAHA AHEAD OF SEASON SHOWDOWN Swan Yamaha’s Tommy Hill and Michael Laverty secured podium finishes at the penultimate Showdown round of the MCE Insurance British Superbike Championship at Silverstone today as the team now prepare to fight for the title at the deciding finale at Brands Hatch. In the opening race of the day Laverty took the lead before championship leader John Hopkins passed him on the ninth lap at Stowe. Laverty was trying to regain the position but a mistake cost him the chance of victory as he had failed to see the last lap flag or pit board on the final lap and had to settle for second. Hill took third place as he fought hard to maintain his podium finishing form that has seen him maintain second in the overall standings ahead of the final round. In the second race Laverty again took the lead before the leading Title Fighters battled for the podium positions. Hill then hit the front, but with four laps remaining he was pushed to second but still scored vital points for the championship as Laverty secured fourth. Hill lies second in the standings, eight points adrift of the championship leader whilst Laverty leaves Silverstone in fourth place overall. Hill said: “We have left Silverstone second in the standings and still ready for the title fight at Brands Hatch. I was feeling frustrated with third place in the first race; it wasn’t a bad result in terms of a podium finish and consistency is important but not when a certain American is winning races ahead of us. I really thought we could challenge for the win and we did pull them in towards the end after they had got a bit of a gap. We obviously wanted more in race two and again I had mixed emotions for that race as I was pleased that I had John (Hopkins) behind me for the championship, but also I want to win badly for myself and the Swan Yamaha team. We had a few issues with set up this weekend and I did struggle with grip but I knew I just had to push on because every point counts. Josh (Brookes) came past me and I wanted to have a go but the championship tapped me on the back of my head and I knew that the points would be critical coming in to Brands Hatch and the last three races.” Laverty said: “Race one was going to plan and I was feeling comfortable with the pace and I followed John (Hopkins) for a few laps but I made a stupid mistake because I hadn’t seen my pit board or the last lap flag and so I didn’t take a punt to get passed him. I was a bit frustrated with that and I wanted to make amends in the second race. In the second one I took the lead on the first lap, but John Hopkins got passed me and before I knew it I was back to third. I was suffering with some brake issues and the race was getting a bit messy as everyone was making lunges and it was all pretty hectic! I think if I had been able to get to the front I could have controlled the pace but I just didn’t get the chance I needed. We will re-group though and come back for Brands Hatch and the last three races of the season ready to get back on that podium.” Swan Yamaha team owner Shaun Muir concluded: “I am delighted that we leave Silverstone still in contention for the championship and the racing today just shows that all of the riders out there are giving it everything. The title will go down to the wire and it was just a shame that the race was red flagged as I think Michael could have made a move to take the last place on the podium.” For more information visit www.swanyamaha.co.uk More, from a press release issued by Honda: MCE INSURANCE BRITISH SUPERBIKE CHAMPIONSHIP ROUND 11 SUNDAY 25 SEPTEMBER SILVERSTONE Temperature: Ambient 18 degrees C / Track 22 degrees C Attendance: Weekend 32,500 BYRNE MAINTAINS TITLE HOPES IN TOUGH RACES, BUT KIYONARI CONCEDES CROWN Shane Byrne maintained his hopes of taking the MCE Insurance British Superbike crown for a third time as he took two hard earned fifth places in the penultimate round at Silverstone. However his HM Plant Honda team-mate Ryuichi Kiyonari had to concede his crown after finishing the opening race last and the running thirteenth next time out. Both Kiyonari and Byrne were on the back foot for the opening race after a problematic time in both practice and qualifying that confined them both to a fourth row start. Byrne was 13th on the grid, Kiyonari 16th. Byrne suffered a continuing vibration problem as he explained: “We just can’t get to the bottom of the chatter problems. I am absolutely devastated with how qualifying turned out.” In an effort to cure them, the team made radical changes to the bike for the races. Kiyonari made several changes with the electronics system, reverting to the Motec system for qualifying after using a kit ECU during Friday free practice. He also had changes made to the suspension and set up in an effort to improve turning and exit speed to little effect in the grid deciding session. Race day morning warm-up practice suggested Byrne had made some progress, radically changing front and rear suspension settings, as he ran third fastest, only 0.154secs down on pace-setting Hopkins, but Kiyonari was back in 17th place, 2.449secs down. Byrne was in fourth place for the first two thirds of the opening race, but then was taken by Josh Brookes and had to settle for fifth place as Suzuki’s John Hopkins took the victory ahead of Yamaha riders Michael Laverty and Tommy Hill. Byrne took some consolation was his race pace which earned him an improved second row starting slot for the second race, sixth fastest. Things went from bad to worse for Kiyonari who was pushed into the pits to change his rear tyre as the grid lined-up, beginning the warm-up lap from the pit-lane, but instead of starting from the back of the grid in the race, he took his grid slot and was penalised with a ride through penalty. Running last in the race, he pitted for a qualifying tyre in a bid to gain a good starting slot for the second race, but, he had to settle for a third row start, tenth fastest. The second race brought a strong start from Byrne who was running in second place after two laps and then leading on the fifth and sixth laps before being forced back into fifth place as Suzuki’s Brookes forced through to take the victory ahead of Hill, Hopkins and Laverty. Kiyonari made little impression on the race, slipping back to 19th, but picking up six places to score three consolation points. Honda riders again dominated the “back to basics” BSB-EVO class with Graeme Gowland taking a stunning sixth place overall in the opening race to take the victory in the category on his WFR Honda. Gowland completed the daily double with his team-mate Glen Richards second in each of the races to clinch that title. Honda personnel quotes after the races: Shane Byrne (HM Plant Honda): “We didn’t come here for two fifth places, but after the problems of practice and qualifying if anyone had offered me that on Friday or Saturday I would have snapped their arm off. We were learning in race once having made radical changes to the bike and that was the fastest that we had run all weekend and it was getting better. In the second race I was concentrating on getting everything perfect to lead, but Josh was strong when he came through. We are on the back foot, but the championship is from over.” Ryuichi Kiyonari (HM Plant Honda):” It had been a difficult weekend with my qualifying position, but I was not happy to have a mechanical worry on the warm-up lap and came in. The bike didn’t feel right and when I went out I didn’t realised that I had to start at the back of the grid and was given a ride through penalty. We made little changes to the gear ratios between the races and this had both good and bad effect, but I could not match the speed of the leaders. It has been another difficult weekend and now I don’t want to end the season with more results like this in the final round.” Havier Beltran (team manager HM Plant Honda); “We had a massive turnaround for Shane in the first race. We made big changes and it is just a shame they didn’t come sooner in the weekend, but to turn around 13th place on the grid to fifth in the race is a big comeback. There is still all to play for and we will be fighting to the last round. We have to figure out how to beat our competitors. We struggled with Kiyo’s set up and are disappointed with the results which are not what we wanted. But, we will re-group for the final at Brands Hatch. Graeme Gowland (WFR Honda): “Sixth in the first race was by best ever BSB result and I was well surprised to be up there and have to be delighted. The second race was a hard one and now we have to keep the ball rolling and the momentum up. Congratulations to Glen for winning the BSB-EVO title. Glen Richards (WFR Honda): “A big thanks to the team and my crew, the best in the paddock for the great bike they have given me. I am really happy to seal the title and now can enjoy the final three races with no pressures about the title.” RESULTS BRITISH SUPERBIKE RACE1: POS / RIDER / NAT / MOTORCYCLE / TIME / GAP 1 / John HOPKINS / USA / Suzuki – Samsung Crescent Racing / 29:46.200 / 2 / Michael LAVERTY / GBR / Yamaha – Swan Yamaha / 29:46.452 / 0.252 3 / Tommy HILL / GBR / Yamaha – Swan Yamaha / 29:46.787 / 0.587 4 / Josh BROOKES / AUS / Suzuki – Relentless Suzuki by TAS / 29:47.097 / 0.897 5 / Shane BYRNE / GBR / Honda – HM Plant Honda / 29:47.673 / 1.473 6 / Graeme GOWLAND / GBR / Honda – Team WFR / 30:09.967 / 23.767 7 / Alex LOWES / GBR / Yamaha – Motorpoint Yamaha / 30:10.706 / 24.506 8 / Michael RUTTER / GBR / Ducati – Rapid Solicitors Bathams Ducati / 30:12.245 / 26.045 9 / Martin JESSOPP / GBR / Ducati – Rapid Solicitors Bathams Ducati / 30:13.121 / 26.921 10 / Tommy BRIDEWELL / GBR / Yamaha – Motorpoint Yamaha / 30:13.407 / 27.207 11 / Ian LOWRY / GBR / Kawasaki – MSS Colchester Kawasaki / 30:16.109 / 29.909 12 / James WESTMORELAND / GBR / Honda – Team WFR / 30:16.172 / 29.972 13 / Glen RICHARDS / AUS / Honda – Team WFR / 30:19.123 / 32.923 14 / Gary MASON / GBR / Kawasaki – MSS Colchester Kawasaki / 30:25.405 / 39.205 15 / Dan LINFOOT / GBR / Honda – Tyco Honda / 30:25.856 / 39.656 Fastest lap: Josh BROOKES AUS Suzuki – Relentless Suzuki by TAS Lap 2 2:06.253 168.29 Km/h RACE2: POS / RIDER / NAT / MOTORCYCLE / TIME / GAP 1 / Josh BROOKES / AUS / Suzuki – Relentless Suzuki by TAS / 27:44.338 / 2 / Tommy HILL / GBR / Yamaha – Swan Yamaha / 27:45.971 / 1.633 3 / John HOPKINS / USA / Suzuki – Samsung Crescent Racing / 27:46.287 / 1.949 4 / Michael LAVERTY / GBR / Yamaha – Swan Yamaha / 27:46.448 / 2.110 5 / Shane BYRNE / GBR / Honda – HM Plant Honda / 27:46.662 / 2.324 6 / Jon KIRKHAM / GBR / Suzuki – Samsung Crescent Racing / 27:46.900 / 2.562 7 / Peter HICKMAN / GBR / Honda – Tyco Honda / 27:47.318 / 2.980 8 / Michael RUTTER / GBR / Ducati – Rapid Solicitors Bathams Ducati / 28:00.027 / 15.689 9 / Tommy BRIDEWELL / GBR / Yamaha – Motorpoint Yamaha / 28:00.607 / 16.269 10 / Dan LINFOOT / GBR / Honda – Tyco Honda / 28:00.936 / 16.598 11 / Graeme GOWLAND / GBR / Honda – Team WFR / 28:01.041 / 16.703 12 / Alex LOWES / GBR / Yamaha – Motorpoint Yamaha / 28:01.358 / 17.020 13 / Ryuichi KIYONARI / JPN / Honda – HM Plant Honda / 28:08.054 / 23.716 14 / Gary MASON / GBR / Kawasaki – MSS Colchester Kawasaki / 28:12.501 / 28.163 15 / Ian LOWRY / GBR / Kawasaki – MSS Colchester Kawasaki / 28:14.518 / 30.180 Fastest lap: Josh BROOKES AUS Suzuki – Relentless Suzuki by TAS Lap 6 2:06.698 167.69 Km/h SHOWDOWN POSITIONS TO DATE:: 1 HOPKINS 609, 2 HILL 601, 3 BROOKES 568, 4 BYRNE 565, 5 LAVERTY 565, 6 KIYONARI 521, 7 KIRKHAM 182, 8 RUTTER 146, 9 HICKMAN 146, 10 MASON 139, 11 JESSOPP 101, 12 WALKER 90, 13 BAZ 88, 14 WESTMORELAND 72, 15 EASTON 69. NEXT EVENT: ROUND 12 SUNDAY OCTOBER 9, BRANDS HATCH More, from a press release issued by Team Suzuki News Service: Team Suzuki’s John Hopkins extended his lead in the 2011 British Superbike Championship with a win and a third place today at Silverstone in Northamptonshire and takes an eight-point lead to the final three-race round at Brands Hatch in a fortnight’s time. Hopkins’ Samsung Crescent Racing team-mate Jon Kirkham again proved he can run with the Title Fighters. However in race one, he was judged to have jumped the start and was given a ride-through penalty, effectively ending his race. But he rode at his best in the second race as part of the seven-bike leading group, eventually placing sixth. John Hopkins: “I’m very happy with the weekend’s results. Part of me knew we were in damage-limitation mode as I was sure I’d have to fight through the pain barrier at some point with my finger only days after major surgery. The team, though, made my job much easier by giving me such a good set-up based on the limited number of laps we did in practice and qualifying: I need to say it’s a massive thanks to them. “The first race? Well, I won! It wasn’t easy and Michael Laverty was tough opposition, even when I passed him I couldn’t drop him, so I was relieved to take the chequered flag. Then we had a real race on our hands – my hand – to get the swelling out of my finger before race two. The team had a specialist work with me over the weekend, and through icing, then laser treatment and elevating, we kept on top of it. “Race two was difficult as I didn’t have the grip from the rear tyre that I’d had in the first race. It was sliding around from the beginning and while I tried to conserve it I was struggling towards the end of the race. I was still able to challenge Tommy Hill for second, but with the red flag coming out with a lap to go due to another rider’s engine ‘blowing up’ and putting oil on the track, I ran out of time.” Jon Kirkham: “A good weekend as again I was on the pace. But the jump start in race one was annoying. The starter kept us on the grid for what felt like an age and I could sense my clutch was cooking, then it jumped. I stopped it with the brake, and I was stationary when the race started, but was still judged to have jumped. I was gutted. “Race two started well because the team had the forethought to get me sorted with a soft tyre in what was left of my first race, so I was able to put in a fast lap for a front-row qualifying position. I was pleased I was able to race with the top guys and passing Shane Byrne I thought I might have a chance of a top-five, but then he passed me back and before I could have another go we got the red flag. But to be less then three-seconds behind the winner I know I have the pace now to regularly ride at the front.” Jack Valentine – Team Manager: “I’m very pleased with the outcome. Hopper has been magnificent again this weekend: He’s riding competitive, controlled races with a badly-injured hand and winning! The effort he’s putting in is amazing. “JK is now at home with the pace of the leaders; he’s in there with them and he’s putting in passes, his race craft improves with every race; and he’s able to play the team-mate Hopper needs, dicing with the Title Fighters and taking points from them when he can. So I’ve no complaints. The boys performed. But for the red flag in race two, we might have slightly better results on both their accounts, but we’re talking ‘ifs.’ To come away with an eight-point lead in the Championship is a great outcome. Just three more races to go…” MCE Insurance British Superbike Championship: Race one results: 1 John Hopkins (Samsung Crescent Racing) 2 Michael Laverty (Swan Yamaha) +0.252s 3 Tommy Hill (Swan Yamaha) +0.587s 4 Josh Brookes (Relentless Suzuki by TAS) +0.897s 5 Shane Byrne (HM Plant Honda) +1.473s 6 Graeme Gowland (WFR Honda) +23.767s 7 Alex Lowes (Motorpoint Yamaha) +24.506s 8 Michael Rutter (Rapid Solicitors-Bathams Ducati) +26.045s 9 Martin Jessopp (Rapid Solicitors-Bathams Ducati) +26.921s 10 Tommy Bridewell (Motorpoint Yamaha) +27.207s Race two results: 1 Josh Brookes (Relentless Suzuki by TAS) 2 Tommy Hill (Swan Yamaha) +1.633s 3 John Hopkins (Samsung Crescent Racing) +1.949s 4 Michael Laverty (Swan Yamaha) +2.110s 5 Shane Byrne (HM Plant Honda) +2.324s 6 Jon Kirkham (Samsung Crescent Racing) +2.562s 7 Peter Hickman (Tyco Honda) +2.980s 8 Michael Rutter (Rapid Solicitors-Bathams Ducati) +15.689s 9 Tommy Bridewell (Motorpoint Yamaha) +16.269s 10 Dan Linfoot (Tyco Honda) +16.598s Championship Points: 1 John Hopkins (Samsung Crescent Racing) 609 2 Tommy Hill (Swan Yamaha) 601 3 Shane Byrne (HM Plant Honda) 568 4 Michael Laverty (Swan Yamaha) 565 5 Josh Brookes (Relentless Suzuki by TAS) 565 6 Ryuichi Kiyonari (HM Plant Honda) 521 7 Jon Kirkham (Samsung Crescent Racing) 182 More, from a press release issued by Team Suzuki News Service: After his fourth double victory of the season earlier today at Silverstone, Relentless Suzuki by TAS racing’s Alastair Seeley now leads the British Supersport Championship by 14 points going into the final three races at Brands Hatch in two weeks’ time. The Ulsterman took his eighth top step of the year in yesterday’s Supersport sprint race, but his performance today – coming through from sixth place on the opening lap to win by four seconds – is testament to his talent and determination onboard the all-new GSX-R600 Suzuki. Seeley began the weekend 36 points adrift, but after another perfect 50-point haul now leads the series, leaving the destination of the 2012 British Supersport title firmly in his own hands – which is just the way he wants it going into the final round. Alastair Seeley: “That was a good job this weekend. It’s nice to go from a big gap chasing the series lead just two weeks ago to be leading it after four race wins. I’ve led Championships before so I know what has to be done to get over the line and I’ve won races before at Brands so that should put me in the driving seat. “It was tough at the start today as one of the Triumph boys knocked my hands off the bars on the opening lap and I was down in fifth or sixth place. I also tucked the front and saved it in the wind, but after that there were no more issues – the wee 600 GSX-R never missed a beat. I knew what the game plan was from the start and once I got past Wilson I stuck to my own lines which were quicker and just kept it safe for the win.” Philip Neill – Team Manager: “I’ve watched Alastair produce more than enough stunning rides this past three-or-four seasons but that’s probably his best weekend ever in the British Championship. The way he took control under immense pressure and never faltered can only be commended. Yes, the GSX-R600 and Relentless Suzuki team package is, I believe, the best in the series, but a lot of the success also comes down to the experience that Alastair shows and the tremendous racing brain he possesses. “You can throw anything at him – and many have tried – but he knows his game plan before the start of each race and he sticks to it. Today it was fight to the front and ‘pull the pin’ as he likes the say! Now we’re in a strong position but there’s plenty of work still to be done – we will not get complacent, this Championship is far from over yet.” British Supersport Race 2 – Silverstone [12 laps]: 1: Alastair Seeley [Relentless Suzuki by TAS] 26:26.349 2: Christian Iddon [Triumph] +4.376 3: Paul Young [Triumph] +6.506 4: Luke Mossey [Triumph] +14.805 5: Matthew Whitman [Triumph] +18.475 6: Billy McConnell [Triumph] +20.613 Championship Standings: 1: Alastair Seeley [Relentless Suzuki by TAS] 405 points [9 wins] 2: Ben Wilson 391 3: Billy McConnell 220 4: Paul Young 208 5: Sam Warren 167 6: Luke Mossey 163