British Superbike Championship Brands Hatch GP Circuit Leeds, Great Britain October 8 Race Results: Superbike (all on Pirelli tires): 1. Michael Laverty (Yam YZF-R1), 16 laps 2. Josh Brookes (Suz GSX-R1000), -0.396 second 3. John Hopkins (Suz GSX-R1000), -8.766 seconds 4. Tommy Hill (Yam YZF-R1), -8.873 5. James Ellison (Hon CBR1000RR), -9.007 6. Shane Byrne (Hon CBR1000RR), -11.681 7. Michael Rutter (Duc 1098R), -13.752 8. Jon Kirkham (Suz GSX-R1000), -13.923 9. Graeme Gowland (Hon CBR1000RR), -18.452, EVO 10. Martin Jessopp (Duc 1098R), -24.763 Supersport (make-up race for Oulton Park, all on Pirelli tires): 1. Ben Wilson (Kaw ZX-6R), 10 laps 2. Sam Warren (Yam YZF-R6), -4.001 seconds 3. Billy McConnell (Tri Daytona 675), -4.614 4. Christian Iddon (Tri Daytona 675), -4.669 5. Paul Young (Tri Daytona 675), -5.376 6. Luke Mossey (Tri Daytona 675), -7.157 7. Pauli Pekkanen (Tri Daytona 675), -7.158 8. Matthew Whitman (Tri Daytona 675), -7.169 9. Jimmy Hill (Tri Daytona 675), -7.250 10. Allann Jon Venter (Tri Daytona 675), -7.498 More, from a press release issued by British Superbike Championship organizers: LAVERTY BEATS BROOKES FOR WIN AS HOPKINS AND HILL FIGHT FOR THIRD Results Race one, Saturday, 16 laps: 1. Michael Laverty (Swan Yamaha) 2. Josh Brookes (Relentless Suzuki by TAS) +0.396s 3. John Hopkins (Samsung Crescent Racing Suzuki) +8.766s 4. Tommy Hill (Swan Yamaha) +8.873s 5. James Ellison (Sorrymate.com Honda) +9.007s 6. Shane Byrne (HM Plant Honda) +11.681s MCE Insurance British Superbike Championship standings: 1. John Hopkins (Samsung Crescent Racing Suzuki) 625 2. Tommy Hill (Swan Yamaha) 614 3. Michael Laverty (Swan Yamaha) 590 4. Josh Brookes (Relentless Suzuki by TAS) 588 5. Shane Byrne (HM Plant Honda) 575 6. Ryuichi Kiyonari (HM Plant Honda) 521 Report John Hopkins extended his lead to eleven points over Tommy Hill ahead of Sunday’s final two title deciding races at Brands Hatch in the chase for the MCE Insurance British Superbike Championship. Riding the Samsung Crescent Racing Suzuki Hopkins was pushed to the limit by a determined Hill who tried everything to find a way through but it was the American who took third place, by a split second over his Swan Yamaha rival to ensure that the scrap for the country’s premier title goes right down to the wire. The leading duo in the title stakes had duelled hard for third place in the Saturday afternoon race but ahead of them there was an equally intense scrap for supremacy as Michael Laverty just held off Josh Brookes by a third of a second to take his third victory of the season. Laverty made a great start to the race, taking the lead through Paddock Hill Bend as he ran his Swan Yamaha out front but soon he was feeling the heat from Brookes who earlier had shattered the outright lap record to put his Relentless Suzuki by TAS onto his first pole start. Brookes closed within a tenth of a second but Laverty riding smoothly and strongly fended off the challenges from the Australian to take a third victory of the campaign and one that maintain his outside hopes of the title though he is 35 points down on Hopkins with only 50 left to play for. Laverty reflected afterwards: “I had no issues in the race having got the start I wanted. I got my head down, kept it as smooth as possible and as my gap over Josh started going down I concentrated hard, tried to make no mistakes so we could take the win.” Brookes, who starts the first of the two Sunday races from pole position, admitted afterwards: “Michael rode a perfect race. I made up the ground that I had lost on the first two laps, got into a rhythm and caught him but he did not make a single mistake.” Eight seconds adrift of the leading duo were the two riders most likely to take the title and it was Hopkins who held onto the final podium finish. Hill had made a couple of errors on the opening lap to be running in sixth place but he charged into contention by one thirds distance and then reeled in his American rival. There was little between them over the final third and at Paddock Hill Bend on the penultimate lap Hill edged into third place though not for long before Hopkins was back in front and the American took the final podium position by only 0.107secs. Hopkins explained: “The main objective was to beat Tommy. I can’t say that was one of the most enjoyable races I’ve had. I’d not ridden so tense and tight before. It was tough out there what a showdown.” James Ellison took fifth on the Sorrymate.com Honda ahead of former two times title winner Shane Byrne who had injured his left hand in a tumble from his HM Plant Honda at Westfields but bounced back to take sixth despite starting from the fifth row of the grid. Graeme Gowland took the victory in the Mirror.co.uk BSB-EVO class finishing comfortable clear of his title winning WFR team-mate Glen Richards. For more information please visit www.britishsuperbike.com More, from a press release issued by Swan Yamaha: SWAN YAMAHA TAKE OPENING VICTORY AT BRANDS HATCH The Swan Yamaha team secured the opening race win of the weekend at the final round of the MCE Insurance British Superbike Championship at Brands Hatch as Michael Laverty celebrated his third victory of the season as Tommy Hill just missed out on a podium finish. Laverty and Hill qualified second and fourth respectively and in the race Laverty took the lead on the opening lap which he held until the chequered flag. Hill had dropped to sixth at the end of the opening lap but a determined performance saw him fight his way through to fourth before he challenged championship leader John Hopkins for the final podium position. Hill had edged ahead on the opening lap but Hopkins took the advantage to the line. Hill is now eleven points adrift of his title rival ahead of tomorrow’s championship-deciding races. Hill said: “I rode hard and did the best I could. We had to change the engine before the race which is not the best of things to happen but we had to do it as we had a bit of an issue. We are going back to the original for tomorrow’s races so I will have to get used to that in the warm-up session. I’m a bit frustrated after that race as I needed to beat Hopper but now I have to get out there and stop him in tomorrow’s races. That will not be easy as everyone is riding at the top of their game. I have to go out there and get wins and there is no reason why I cannot do that as I have a good team behind me.” Laverty said: “I got the start I needed and tried to get my head down. I edged out maybe a second and then I saw the gap disappearing on my pit board and knew someone was catching me. I watched the lap timer and just tried to stay smooth and consistent to maintain my position. I rode a good race and it was nice to pull off the win. I knew Josh was close to me as I could hear him so I didn’t leave him any room and we were so closely matched. It is going to make it interesting for tomorrow as we are all going for it.” Team Manager Gary Ekerold concluded: “It was a fantastic race for Michael and demonstrates that he can convert raw pace into a result which he has worked all season on. Tommy came close to beating John Hopkins but just didn’t have the right set up today. There are eleven points between them now but there are still 50 points available tomorrow so Tommy needs to go out and win. The two races will separate the men from the boys.” For more information visit www.swanyamaha.co.uk More, from a press release issued Team Suzuki News Service: Relentless Suzuki by TAS riders Josh Brookes and Alastair Seeley took today’s Superbike and Supersport pole position slots at Brands Hatch in Kent during the final round of the 2011 British Championships but had mixed fortunes. Brookes went on to record second place and a fastest lap in the first of the weekend’s three Superbike races, but Seeley crashed out of the 10-lap Supersport encounter after setting a new Supersport lap record. Both riders will start tomorrow’s races from pole position in their respective classes. Josh Brookes: “The truth is I’m just not very satisfied with second. I got the fastest lap in the race; the fastest lap for the track in qualifying and qualified on Pole. Fourth and second place are always the worst as they are one place off the podium and one place off the win. I’m really happy with the way our GSX-R1000 Suzuki is working and I will not be changing a thing for tomorrow. The bike has been superb today but I just couldn’t outclass Michael in the race and that’s disappointing. I was following him lap after lap and I couldn’t find a way by, so if the roles are reversed, I think it will be the same for him – so that’s what I aim to do tomorrow.” Alastair Seeley: “The plan was to break him today and just consolidate the lead and that’s what I was doing. Unfortunately I just got too much lean angle and caught the engine casing on the kerb and that forced the front to tuck. I was straight up and over to the bike but the clip-on was broken so it was race over. We have had good speed all weekend so we just need to win both races tomorrow and see what that brings. We’re not out of it yet.” Philip Neill – Team Manager: “It was a perfect start to the day with two pole positions, but we soon found out how cruel racing can be when Alastair clipped a kerb with his engine casing and that forced the crash. What is more disappointing is that he has been so dominant all weekend and no one is within touching distance of his lap times. That counts for nothing if you don’t turn it into points but we have proved the strength of the GSX-R600 and also our GSX-R1000 Superbike with fastest laps and records today. Tomorrow is a new day for us and Alastair is well aware of what he needs to do. “Josh has also been bang-on form this weekend and it’s pleasing to see. He looks fast and is feeling very confident and on top of that, our bike is working superbly beneath him. He did all he could today but Michael didn’t put a foot wrong in the race. We’re happy to be on the podium, but again we will be looking to turn tomorrow’s Pole Position into race wins and finish the season on a high.” More, from a press release issued by Samsung Crescent Suzuki: Samung Crescent Racing’s John Hopkins extended his lead in the 2011 British Superbikes Championship after finishing third in the first race of the final round today, at the Brands Hatch GP circuit. He now leads the championship by 11 points with just two more races to run. Hopkins’ team-mate Jon Kirkham finished in eighth place and maintains his lead in the Riders’ Cup. Hopkins rode a steady race today electing to not fight for the win against riders who will struggle to overcome his points advantage and instead focused on his battle with Tommy Hill, his nearest rival. Hill attacked Hopkins on the final lap and took a momentary lead but Hopkins was able to counter attack and hold the advantage to the finish, netting a further three points advantage over Hill. Jon Kirkham continues to improve his pace, and was one of the few riders to lap in the 1:25-minute bracket today. With a good start Kirkham should be able to secure the top-five finishes he seeks tomorrow. Earlier today both had ridden strong in qualifying, with Hopkins securing third fastest for a front row starting position and Kirkham seventh fastest for a second row. John Hopkins: “We’ve had a good day today. We’ve got great lap and race speeds so we can race for wins. But today Michael Laverty and Josh Brookes were riding hard, they both had nothing to lose and everything to gain, while for my part I didn’t need to ride with them or beat them to win this championship, so I elected to stay clear and ride safe. Maybe too safe, as that tactic did allow Tommy Hill to close on me and it made for an exciting last lap, but I was able to deal with his attack and lead him home. “I still can’t rest easy, 11 points isn’t enough to make us feel secure and the strategy for tomorrow is still race to win. I just need to ride the way I have all season and we’ll get the job done.” Jon Kirkham: “I’m really pleased to be on the pace, to do the lap times. Dipping into the 1:25s I’m again matching the front runners. Now it’s now just a case of being stronger in the first third of the race, both in defence and attack. For my part I want two top-fives tomorrow, I want to be at the front and if my doing so helps Hopper’s cause then so much the better. Everything is good to go.” Jack Valentine, team manager: “Weekends like this are never easy, the stakes are that high. It was no surprise Hopper had a small dose of nerves today, but if that’s how he rides when he’s being cautious then we should be good for tomorrow. He’s reflected on his performance today and he’s acknowledged he wasn’t his usual self and he’s judged that a bit of a mistake. Lesson learned, he’ll be back tomorrow the attacking, calculating rider we’ve come to know. Everything is ready. The bike is great, nothing wanting there. The team’s ready. And Hopper’s ready. “JK deserves special mention again. His result eighth doesn’t look so special but he’s again showing he can do the lap times, he’s a definite top-five on that basis. He’s not doing anything stupid, he’s very comfortable. Hopefully tomorrow he’ll get the starts and be that little bit more assertive as he now has every right to be and we’ll see two great results from him to close what on balance has been a brilliant year. It’s a big leap stepping into a lead team but JK’s come through in style. “So it’s been a good day today, we’ve done some hard work and I think we’ve felt and withstood the pressure. We head into tomorrow with a single purpose.”