British Superbike News

Tommy Hill - Brands Hatch 2010

This weekend saw the opening round of the British Superbikes Championship for 2010 at Brands Hatch in two thrilling races.

Tommy Hill on the Worx Suzuki claimed the top step of the podium in the first BSB race of the day after passing Ryuichi Kiyonari on the HM Plant Honda.  Kiyonari had dominated the majority of the race on his return to the series but Hill stormed pass, eight laps from the finish after a mistake from the Honda rider.

Stuart Easton on the Swan Honda machine moved into third place at the start of the race after qualifying in eighth followed by Tommy Bridewell on the Quay Garage Honda in fourth and Josh Brookes in fifth on the second HM Plant Honda.   Bridewell crashed out on lap 14 of the race after losing the front end at the Graham Hill bend.

As Hill and Kiyonari battled for the top step of the podium the scrap for the final step was going on behind between Easton, Brookes, Alastair Seeley for Relentless Suzuki and Ellison. Ellison took third position ahead of Seeley and Brookes with Easton finishing in sixth.

Michael Laverty was forced to retire from the race after suffering a technical problem on his Relentless Suzuki on lap 12.  Simon Andrews ran off track on the MSS Colchester Kawasaki at Paddock Hill bend ending his race along with Christian Iddon on the Sorrymate.com SMT Honda who crashed out at Druids on the 19th lap.

Race 1 Results;

1. Tommy Hill GBR Worx Crescent Suzuki 23mins 10.296secs 30 laps
2. Ryuichi Kiyonari JPN HM Plant Honda +0.723s
3. James Ellison GBR Swan Honda +4.607s
4. Alastair Seeley GBR Relentless TAS Suzuki +4.655s
5. Josh Brookes AUS HM Plant Honda +8.785s
6. Stuart Easton GBR Swan Honda +10.598s
7. Michael Rutter GBR Ridersmotorcycles.com Ducati +11.5856
8. Dan Linfoot GBR Motorpoint Yamaha +20.079s
9. Chris Walker GBR CW Racing Suzuki +20.211s
10. John Laverty GBR Buildbase Kawasaki +20.585s
11. Martin Jessopp GBR Ridersmotorcycles.com Ducati +25.710s
12. Yukio Kagayama JPN Worx Crescent Suzuki +26.357s
13. Gary Mason GBR MSS Colchester Kawasaki +28.288s
14. Steve Brogan GBR Jentin Racing BMW +34.867.563s E
15. Peter Hickman GBR Ultimate Yamaha +35.368s

16. Adam Jenkinson GBR Buildbase Kawasaki +35.997s
17. Luke Jones GBR PR Racing M/C & Moore Yamaha +37.276s
18. Hudson Kennaugh RSA MAR Kawasaki +44.063s E
19. Chris Burns GBR Splitlath Aprilia +1 lap E
20. David Johnson AUS Magic Bullet Two Wheel Suzuki +1 lap E
21. David Anthony AUS MIST Suzuki +1 lap E
22. Steve Mercer GBR SMR Racing Yamaha +1 lap
23. Craig Fitzpatrick GBR Close Print Finance Honda +1 lap E
24. Pauli Pekkanen FIN RR Motorsport Suzuki +1 lap E
25. Aaron Zanotti GBR Red Viper Spike Suzuki +1 lap E
26. Steve Heneghan GBR Quattro Plant Honda +1 lap E
27. Michael Howarth GBR Magic Bullet Two Wheel Suzuki +1 lap E
28. Peter Ward GBR Astro-Chase SST Kawasaki +1 lap E

Not Classified

29. Simon Andrews GBR MSS Colchester Kawasaki 25 laps completed
30. Tom Tunstall GBR Doodson Motorsport Honda 25 laps completed
31. Gary Johnson GBR AIM Suzuki 18 laps completed E
32. Christian Iddon GBR Sorrymate.com SMT Honda 18 laps completed
33. Tommy Bridewell GBR Quay Garage Honda 13 laps completed
34. Michael Laverty GBR Relentless TAS Suzuki 11 laps completed

Did Not Start

Neil Hodgson GBR Motorpoint Yamaha
Joe Burns GBR Splitlath Aprilia E
James Edmeades GBR Redline KTM E

James Ellison - Brands Hatch 2010

James Ellison on the Swan Honda machine claimed victory in the second race of the day, dominating from the start.

Tommy Hill put pressure on Ellison throughout the race while Ryuichi Kiyonari was forced out after just 4 laps after developing an electrical problem on his Honda.   Gary Mason on the second MSS Colchester Kawasaki was also a non-finisher after suffering a technical problem on his machine.

Chris Walker on the CW Racing Suzuki and Dan Linfoot on the Motorpoint Yamaha both crashed out on lap 9 after a coming together, seeing them both thrown into the gravel, while on lap 10 after running in fourth place.   Tommy Bridewell was forced wide while trying to pass Michael Laverty, causing him to crash and putting him out of the race.

Neil Hodgson failed to start his season opener for the Motorpoint Yamaha team after a dramatic high-side during the warm-up lap as entered the Graham Hill bend, injuring his shoulder.

Race 2 Results;

1. James Ellison GBR Swan Honda 23mins 03.278secs 30 laps
2. Tommy Hill GBR Worx Crescent Suzuki +0.186s
3. Alastair Seeley GBR Relentless TAS Suzuki +4.925s
4. Michael Laverty GBR Relentless TAS Suzuki +6.711s
5. Stuart Easton GBR Swan Honda +22.050s
6. Michael Rutter GBR Ridersmotorcycles.com Ducati +22.203s
7. John Laverty GBR Buildbase Kawasaki +27.328s
8. Simon Andrews GBR MSS Colchester Kawasaki +29.841s
9. Martin Jessopp GBR Ridersmotorcycles.com Ducati +35.885s
10. Steve Brogan GBR Jentin Racing BMW +37.489s E
11. Adam Jenkinson GBR Buildbase Kawasaki +39.037s
12. Luke Jones GBR PR Racing M/C & Moore Yamaha +41.190s
13. Christian Iddon GBR Sorrymate.com SMT Honda +42.412s
14. Steve Mercer GBR SMR Racing Yamaha +42.618s
15. Hudson Kennaugh RSA MAR Kawasaki +44.526s E

Neil Hodgson GBR Motorpoint Yamaha
Joe Burns GBR Splitlath Aprilia E
James Edmeades GBR Redline KTM E