Motourage

Swan Yamaha will defend their MCE Insurance British Superbike Championship title in 2012 as team principal Shaun Muir has confirmed the team’s lineup of reigning British champion Tommy Hill (@tommyhill33) and TT record-breaker Ian Hutchinson.

Reigning champion Hill will make his much-anticipated BSB return after claiming a maiden crown in sensational style in the final race of 2011 at Brands Hatch last October, in which the Lingfield, England native defeated rival John Hopkins (@jhopper21) by just 0.006 seconds following a last-lap battle. Hill’s return makes him the first British BSB champion to defend the number one plate since John Reynolds in 2005, and he is now determined to become the third rider in history to win consecutive BSB titles.

Hutchinson completes the team’s lineup as the record-breaking five-time Isle of Man TT winner embarks on his first full season of BSB after a dramatic comeback from a broken tibia and fibula which required several operations to save his leg. Hutchinson had been sidelined since the crash at the penultimate round of the 2010 season before making his comeback at the Macau Grand Prix last month where he celebrated a podium finish.

Tommy Hill: “At the end of last season after winning the title I was speaking to different teams and looking at the different championships, but I knew I needed to have the complete package. I have a lot of fans in BSB, and I think having a British champion trying to hold on to the number one plate is something to get excited about; I certainly am. I really wanted to stay with Yamaha and build on the results and our relationship. The Swan Yamaha team have won one BSB title but now we are looking at how we can improve so we can do it again. The consistency with the team is very important and they have already started looking at what we can do to move forward again. The rule changes don’t worry me as through most of my career I haven’t used traction control. I think it will now come down more to rider input and also working as a team to get the chassis set up right. I know there has already been hard work behind the scenes at the workshop and as a rider that really gives me confidence before we even begin testing.

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2011 BSB Championship runner up and former MotoGP and AMA man John Hopkins plans to make another go at the World Superbike Championship after signing with Crescent Suzuki, as the UK-based team makes the move from the national to the world stage. Hopkins completes the two-man lineup with his new teammate, Leon Camier, who makes the move from the Alitalia Aprilia team. Camier will begin testing the Crescent Suzuki Powered by Yoshimura GSX-R1000 at Portimao, Portugal later this month, with Hopkins joining him in the tests in early 2012. The first race of next year’s calendar is scheduled for Sunday, February 26 at Phillip Island, Australia.

Hopkins is currently at his U.S. home in California, recovering from surgery to correct a finger injury he sustained at Brno while riding as a wild card for the Rizla Suzuki MotoGP team. He had a successful first season with Crescent Suzuki in the British national series, narrowly missing out on the championship at the last race of the year to Swan Yamaha’s Tommy Hill. Hopkins contested the World Superbike Series in 2009 as a mid-season replacement for Robbie Rolfo at the ill-fated Stiggy Honda team, but injuries – and a horrific crash at the Nurburgring – coupled with Stiggy’s decision to pull out of the series, ended Hopkins WSBK hopes. He signed with John Ulrich’s team in AMA Superbike the following year but was again hampered by injuries. Earlier this season, he captured Superpole at the Silverstone WSBK weekend before finishing fifth in race 1 and seventh in race 2 as a wild card.

John Hopkins:
“I am really happy to be joining up with the Crescent guys again. We had a great year in British Superbike and I’m sure we can continue that in WSB. I wanted to get back into world championship racing and this is a natural progression from last year. The difference this time is that I will be going to tracks that I already know and have some reference from, so that should make some things a bit easier.

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Swan Yamaha’s Tommy Hill snatched his maiden MCE Insurance British Superbike Championship title following a sensational performance in yesterday’s final race of the year at Brands Hatch to beat title rival John Hopkins to the line by just 0.006 seconds and be crowned champion with a two-point advantage at the end of the season. Hill also claimed the 2011 MCE Insurance British Superbike Championship Speedy Fastest lap award at the season showdown.

In Saturday’s opening race of the weekend at the final round of the MCE Insurance British Superbike Championship at Brands Hatch, Michael Laverty celebrated his third victory of the season as Tommy Hill just missed out on a podium finish. Laverty took the lead on the opening lap which he held until the checkered 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 the championship leader, Samsung Crescent Suzuki’s John Hopkins, for the final podium position. Hill had edged ahead on the final lap, but Hopkins took the advantage to the line.

Hill missed out on a podium again in yesterday’s second race of the weekend which he completed in fourth place and just two points separating him from title rival Hopkins ahead of the last race of the year. In the final race the pair swapped places five times on the final lap, which would decide the outcome of the title. Hill narrowly crossed the line ahead to secure second and with it a maiden championship title for the team.

Michael Laverty was caught out by the drying conditions in the second race, but in the season finale he was embroiled in the fight for the final podium positions before ending the race in fifth place. Laverty ended the season fourth in the standings for the Swan Yamaha team.

Thanks to Swan Yamaha rider’s impressive display of racing yet again this weekend, Yamaha have claimed the 2011 MCE Insurance British Superbike Manufacturer’s title award holding a 13 point lead.

Tommy Hill, Swan Yamaha – 2011 BSB Champion
“I am gobsmacked to have won the title for Swan Yamaha; this has been my goal and I was trying to stay as relaxed as possible in that final race. The season has put a lot of pressure on everyone and that reflects on everyone. We have been regularly finishing in the top three and that has therefore been the benchmark and the whole of the Swan Yamaha team have been working so hard all year to make this possible. It has just been a complete shock for me and I feel like we should be having another race next weekend now. It wasn’t until the other riders started congratulating me that I even realized I had won as it was so close between myself and Hopper. It has been a long hard season and it came down to that one race. Everyone wanted a Showdown and that is what we have given them; it really was make or break time and I knew I had to do everything possible to beat Hopper. I knew Michael (Laverty) was behind me, but then when I knew it was Josh (Brookes) I had to just go for it. Coming across the line we didn’t know who had finished second and with it the title. At the moment I feel like I need someone to punch me or something to bring me back to reality. I just want to go out and race again now. I just want to celebrate now with my family, friends and the whole of the Swan Yamaha team and I need to thank everyone for their support this season.”

Michael Laverty, Swan Yamaha
“Today has been a great result for the Swan Yamaha team and congratulations have to go to Tommy for winning the title. I rode my hardest to try and protect him and the rest of the hard work he did himself. There is a lot of satisfaction for the team tonight but at the same time I am disappointed that we were not able to come away as the champion. We have been fast all season long and we showed again yesterday with the win that we have the pace. It has been a great year and I need to thank the Swan Yamaha team for all their support.”

Shaun Muir, Swan Yamaha Team Owner
“We delivered everything we set out to achieve at the start of the season although we have made life difficult along the way. It didn’t start the best for Tommy this weekend but he couldn’t have done more in that race. Big thanks also have to go to Michael for his support in the final race as he did a great job of acting as Tommy’s wingman. We want to take this opportunity to thank all of our sponsors, partners and supporters who have made this possible.”

American John Hopkins extended his lead in the 2011 British Superbike Championship after finishing third in the first race of the final round today at the Brands Hatch GP circuit.

The Samsung Crescent Suzuki rider now leads the championship by 11 points with just two more races to run as teammate 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.

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 and 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. 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.”

MCE Insurance British Superbike Championship
Round 12, Brands Hatch GP

Qualifying:
1 Josh Brookes (Relentless Suzuki by TAS) 1m: 25.111s
2 Michael Laverty (Swan Yamaha) +0.031s
3 John Hopkins (Samsung Crescent Racing) +0.177s
4 Tommy Hill (Swan Yamaha) +0.473s
5 James Ellison (Sorrymate.com Honda) +0.617s
6 Michael Rutter (Rapid Solicitors-Bathams Ducati) +0.861s
7 Jon Kirkham (Samsung Crescent Racing) +0.879s
8 Graeme Gowland (WFR Honda) +1.078s
9 Martin Jessopp (Rapid Solicitors-Bathams Ducati) +1.248s
10 Alex Lowes (Motorpoint Yamaha) +1.873s

Race one result:
1 Michael Laverty (Swan Yamaha)
2 Josh Brookes (Relentless Suzuki by TAS) +0.396s
3 John Hopkins (Samsung Crescent Racing) +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
7 Michael Rutter (Rapid Solicitors-Bathams Ducati) +13.752s
8 Jon Kirkham (Samsung Crescent Racing) +13.923s
9 Graeme Gowland (WFR Honda) +18.452s
10 Martin Jessopp (Rapid Solicitors-Bathams Ducati) +24.763s

MCE Insurance British Superbike Championship standings (after race one at Brands Hatch):
1 John Hopkins (Samsung Crescent Racing) 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
7 Jon Kirkham (Samsung Crescent Racing) 190

BSB rookie – and MotoGP, AMA and WSBK veteran – American John Hopkins leads the 2011 British Superbike Championship as it heads to the final round this weekend at the Brands Hatch GP circuit in Kent, England.

Hopkins and the Samsung Crescent Suzuki team have an eight-point lead over his nearest rival, Swan Yamaha’s Tommy Hill, but with three races on the schedule – and 75 points available for the winner of all three – there’s still everything to race for.

Teammate Jon Kirkham in turn leads the Riders’ Cup for the best rider outside of the Title Fighter’s Showdown; and with top-five and podium finishes in recent rounds, he looks set to make the Cup his, while also lending valuable support to Hopkins in the battle at the front.

John Hopkins:
“I’m really keen to get started into the weekend. The points-gap that I have is a great advantage but not really a comfort. The strategy still has to be ‘race to win’ as anything less and we won’t have the Championship, but I’m confident we can do just that. The Samsung Crescent Suzuki has a great set-up, I love riding it and with the data we took from our previous visit to the GP circuit – together with the track knowledge I gained – it puts us in a strong position coming in.

“My injured finger gets stronger each day and I don’t expect it to be a problem. Again I’ll have to manage it – and with three races there’ll be a lot of work to do – but I think we proved at Donington Park and Silverstone that it’s not affecting my racing. There’s mental pressure as well, but it’s nothing new to me; nothing I can’t deal with. The job stays the same: go for the holeshot, take the lead and stay out of trouble. Get the win. It’s racing. I love it.”

Jon Kirkham:
“I’m really looking forward to the weekend. I love the circuit and so after having a bad time here earlier in the year I’ll be going all-out to put in the best performance and finish the year on a high. I’ve got the bike the way I like it now so I’m aiming to be there in the leading pack again. I want to get the points to make the Riders’ Cup mine, but if along the way my being in there helps John’s Championship, then so much the better.”

Jack Valentine, Team Manager:
“Showdown time. Here we are again – just as last year so let’s hope we can finish the job this time. As a team we’re preparing the way we always do – everything 100 percent and everything sorted so we give our riders everything they need to do the job.

“With just eight points in the lead we’re nowhere near applying tactics; we’re in the same boat as everyone and we have to win races to win the Championship. Maybe if we get a win in the first race on Saturday we might be able to play tactical on Sunday, but we know it’s when you start being too clever, or start relaxing – that’s when the problems come. For the riders, they prefer to race to win, it’s probably the safest strategy.

“Hopper’s a great racer in any case. He’s shown all season long that he can respond to challenges and I don’t see anything changing this weekend. Business as usual for him. JK’s had a brilliant end to the year. Mid-season it got away from him for a bit, but since Cadwell Park he’s been brilliant; he’s on the pace all-race, and his race craft improves with every battle. His presence in the top five could yet make every difference to the Championship outcome. Everything is readied: the riders, the bikes, the team. Let’s race.”

American John Hopkins Suzuki stormed to a dominant double victory Sunday at the 10th round of the 2011 British Superbike Championship at Donington Park, putting him in the lead of the BSB Championship with just two rounds to go.

Hopkins’ Samsung Crescent Racing teammate Jon Kirkham was also in great form, fighting for podium finishes and placing 5-3 to strengthen his position as leader in the Rider’s Cup – the competition to be the best rider outside of the Showdown’s Title Fighters.

John Hopkins:
“This is a very special double-win for me. It’s good to come back from injury and to immediately win and to take over the Championship lead. But as well, this is a day of remembrance back at home for the victims of 9/11, so I’m thinking of those people and their families. This is my tribute to them.

“We enjoyed some great racing today. I was careful to conserve my tires in the first race and I let the opportunities come to me. Tommy Hill’s mistake when passing Shane Byrne played to my advantage and then it was just a matter of planning and waiting for the chance to pass Michael Laverty, and that came four laps from home. I had plenty of pace left in the bike and in the tires to take it from there.

“The second race was actually harder; I got most of the racing done early. I was in the lead by the fourth lap, but the lack of distractions meant the pain in my fingers was very obvious. The bike was awesome though and from half-distance I was able to pull four-tenths a lap on Tommy, and once we got to a two-second buffer, I just controlled it from there.”

Jon Kirkham:
“I’m really pleased. I was looking for two top-fives this weekend, so a fifth and a third is more than job-done. I got caught behind Ryuichi Kiyonari early in the first race and this let the leaders get away. It was only a matter of a couple of seconds, but it’s so hard to pull that back given the pace at the front.

“The second race was brilliant fun. I could see from my pit board that I was being chased hard, and when Kiyo slowed I had to pass quickly and make something of a break if it wasn’t going to get messy. I got my head down, and from there to the end of the race I wouldn’t let my speed drop. So the gap grew quite comfortably and I was surprised at the end to see Tommy’s bike coming into view. To share the podium with John today was fantastic.”

Jack Valentine, Team Manager:
“It’s been a fantastic performance this weekend; from Hopper, JK and the whole team. Hopper went fastest in warm-up this morning and JK was fifth again and that told us we were well-set. In the races both riders seriously-impressed us. Hopper’s race craft in race one was brilliant; it was a masterful performance – patient when he needed to be, then so strong and decisive in his attacks. JK might have missed the jump with the leaders but his pace throughout the race was almost identical.

“In the second race Hopper did his work early and settled in for the ride to the flag. JK had his hands full with some tough rivals but brilliantly came out on top; his lap times were within a tenth or two-tenths of Hopper’s and on occasion faster. Impressively, he maintained that right through to the last lap and given a couple more laps he’d have given Tommy Hill something of a surprise!

“In all it’s been a brilliant weekend: To have Hopper leading the Championship and JK the Riders’ Cup is the best possible outcome. Now we look forward to Silverstone in a fortnight’s time. That’s a great track for us; Hopper set the fastest ever Superbike lap-time there earlier this year when we did the British WSB round, so we can expect more of what we saw this weekend from him. And with JK so resurgent, there’s every reason to be excited about our prospects.”

MCE Insurance British Superbike Championship
Round Ten, Donington Park:

Race one result:
1 John Hopkins (Samsung Crescent Racing)
2 Michael Laverty (Swan Yamaha) +0.480s
3 Tommy Hill (Swan Yamaha) +0.781s
4 Shane Byrne (HM Plant Honda) +3.920s
5 Jon Kirkham (Samsung Crescent Racing) +6.345s
6 Josh Brookes (Relentless Suzuki by TAS) +10.281s
7 Peter Hickman (Tyco Honda) +13.141s
8 James Ellison (Sorrymate.com Honda) +18.578s
9 Martin Jessopp (Rapid Solicitors-Bathams Ducati) +22.154s
10 Graeme Gowland (WFR Honda) +22.543s

Race two result:
1 John Hopkins (Samsung Crescent Racing)
2 Tommy Hill (Swan Yamaha) +1.986s
3 Jon Kirkham (Samsung Crescent Racing) +3.315s
4 Martin Jessopp (Rapid Solicitors-Bathams Ducati) +5.978s
5 Josh Brookes (Relentless Suzuki by TAS) +8.324s
6 Ryuichi Kiyonari (HM Plant Honda) +12.236s
7 James Ellison (Sorrymate.com Honda) +12.541s
8 Shane Byrne (HM Plant Honda) +22.445s
9 Chris Walker (Pr1mo Racing Kawasaki) +16.308s
10 Graeme Gowland (WFR Honda) +26.746s

MCE Insurance British Superbike Championship standings:
1 John Hopkins (Samsung Crescent Racing) 568
2 Tommy Hill (Swan Yamaha) 565
3 Shane Byrne (HM Plant Honda) 543
4 Michael Laverty (Swan Yamaha) 532
5 Josh Brookes (Relentless Suzuki by TAS) 530
6 Ryuichi Kiyonari (HM Plant Honda) 518
7 Jon Kirkham (Samsung Crescent Racing) 172

Samsung Crescent Racing Suzuki is readying itself for the crucial Showdown phase of the 2011 British Superbike Championship that gets underway this weekend at Donington Park in Leicestershire, England.

John Hopkins is still recovering from the finger injuries he sustained at the Brno MotoGP in August, but confirms he fully expects to be able to fight for wins this coming weekend. As the top six in the Championship start their three-round battle to determine the series Champion, Hopkins says he couldn’t be more motivated.

Hopkins’ teammate, Jon Kirkham, having narrowly missed inclusion in the Top-Six Title Fighters, begins his own battle to win the Riders’ Cup, awarded to the best rider outside of the top six.

John Hopkins:
“I’m ready to return to racing. I’m having the last pins out of my middle finger and then I’ll have full articulation in all fingers. I’ve been keeping up my fitness and exercising my hand so I expect to be able to push right from the get-go. I know Donington Park well from my MotoGP years – I love the place – so I’m right on the game there.

“I’ve been waiting for this phase of the Championship to start and now it’s here I can’t wait to get stuck in. I can sense this weekend is going to be fantastic, we’re all going to be going for it and it’s my intention to be right at the very front.”

Jon Kirkham:
“The disappointment of missing out on the Title Fighters has been more than made up by the excitement of racing at the front again – and the impending battle to grab the Riders’ Cup. That will be no less difficult than trying to make the top six: There are plenty of riders who have plenty of form right now, but I’m keen to stay in the top six in the race results, and if at any time my being there will help Hopper, then so much the better.”

Jack Valentine, Team Manager:
“To say Hopper is ready would be an understatement. He’s is literally ‘pulling the pin’, or pins, as we speak. We’ve stayed in contact as he’s been recuperating back at his home in the States, and he’s certainly fired up for this weekend. He’s really up for it and I think we can expect him to come out fighting. This is a very exciting point in the Championship, as we literally start all over again and with Donington, Silverstone and Brands being the final rounds – all good venues for Hopper – we can expect a very strong and determined run to the flag from him.

“It’s been good to see JK coming back up to speed over the last couple of rounds, and that last race at Cadwell Park really recharged him; there’s nothing like racing within sight of the lead to spark up a racer. I think we can expect to see JK getting into the top six again; with the Riders’ Cup there’s motivation for him too.

“Within the team we have the bikes ready, all the tools needed to do the job, everything is set for this final stage of the Championship. The energy levels in the team are at an all-time high. We’re definitely ready.”

Samsung Crescent Racing has confirmed that John Hopkins will not ride at Cadwell Park this weekend, the ninth round of the 2011 British Superbike Championship.

The injury to the Suzuki rider’s right hand that he damaged at the Brno MotoGP in the Czech Republic is healing well, but doctors advise it is insufficiently healed to enable him to race again so soon. The team has also confirmed that there will be no replacement rider for Hopkins; Jon Kirkham will be their sole representative on track.

Jack Valentine, Team Manager:
“Unfortunately Hopper’s hand is not healed enough to race this weekend and while this is disappointing to us and the fans it is the right decision when we consider the upcoming Showdown phase of the Championship.

“Hopper’s been in daily contact as he’s undergone intensive laser treatment and hyperbaric chamber sessions. He’s explained the external pins are expected to be removed on Wednesday, but of course the weekend is too soon after that for his hand to be sufficiently healed.

“We will, we suspect, lose a few podium points to our rivals in the Showdown, but to race a Superbike at a track such as this when you don’t have 100 percent strength in your throttle and brake hand is simply too dangerous both to the rider and his competitors and would only stand to slow Hopper’s recovery from the injury.

“The team will nonetheless be at very near full-strength as we look forward to giving Jon Kirkham additional resources for the weekend. He’ll have two crew chiefs working for him as well as his regular crew of mechanics and we hope this will fast track his set-up, allowing him to get back to where he belongs; at the front of the field.”

John Hopkins placed 4-3-2 for the weekend at the eighth round of the 2011 British Superbikes Championship at the Brands Hatch GP. Hopkins Samsung Crescent Suzuki teammate, Jon Kirkham, placed 9-8-10.

Saturday’s Race 1 saw a dramatic change in conditions as a light drizzle fell over the circuit. Hopkins elected to ride on intermediate tires. After challenging for the lead at mid-distance, he dropped to fourth as the track dried and his tires degraded.

Kirkham hit a technical issue that meant he only rode three laps in first practice. He recovered well to make 11th-fastest in second practice but missed out on making the final 10 in qualifying. Starting race one from P16, he pulled through to an impressive ninth by the flag, only 22 seconds off the lead.

For both Hopkins and Kirkham it was a tough first race on Sunday having to battle from the third and fourth rows respectively at the start. Hopkins was in fine form, and despite gear-shift issues, was able to fight his way through traffic, finishing third. Kirkham also rode a strong race to come through to eighth, 17 seconds behind the winner.

Hopkins had a front-row start for the final race and capitalized to take second position off the start. He held on to the leader, Tommy Hill, for most of the race distance but had to settle for second to secure yet more podium credits. Kirkham also made a good start, but after getting hemmed in at the first turn, he found himself in an eight-bike battle for eighth, finally finishing in 10th.

John Hopkins:
“It all went well today. We had a little issue with shifting gear in that first race and so I couldn’t ride as hard as I’d like to have, but I was very happy to pick up that last podium credit. In the second race the bike was perfect and everything was great but Tommy Hill rode really well; I couldn’t have ridden any harder; it hurts to be beaten, but we did what was needed.

“Importantly I’m now secure in the top six for the Showdown and that’s exciting and something I can really look forward to. Going to Cadwell Park I don’t need to worry about Championship points and will instead ride for the podium credits – they’re most-important now. Once again the team proved just how good it is this weekend, sorting the shifter-issues between races today and the bike was perfect for that last race. We’re looking set for a great time at Cadwell Park.”

Jon Kirkham:
“Three top-10 finishes from three rides – I should be happy with that after my recent run of bad luck, but I can’t be totally happy though: The first race today was hard work, so to come away with a second-row start for the last race was a good outcome. But then I got trapped in the pack on turn one and all the good work was undone. I got some decent lap times in but got stuck behind another rider, so the result could have been better.

“I know the Title Fighters really is a long shot for me now: 24 points doesn’t sound so much, but at this level all the riders know how to get results. I’ve still got the goal to improve my results though and I think top-six finishes are achievable – as long as I get my starts sorted. I’m still looking to improve.”

Jack Valentine, Team Manager:
‘It’s been a tough but successful weekend. We’ve got a strong set of results. Overall I think Hopper netted the most points of any rider this weekend – again he’s been a consistent and strong points scorer, showing the kind of form which is going to be decisive come the Showdown. He’s off to Brno now for a little MotoGP action, and the whole team is willing him to do well; he’s on top form.

“JK had a better weekend. Unfortunately so did the other riders around him who are all vying for that final spot on the Title Fighters list. He’s only 24 points off that sixth position and with three races to run at Cadwell Park; mathematically he could do it, but I think we’ll need quite a few factors to come into play for it to go his way and we have to be realistic. The important thing is JK is showing good form. I can see he’s riding with a lot more confidence and building on this weekend, top-six finishes at Cadwell Park should be possible.”

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The Samsung Crescent Racing Team heads to Brands Hatch GP this week for the eighth round of the 2011 British Superbikes Championship after a successful trip to Silverstone where John Hopkins took pole position and two top-10 finishes. The team is anticipating another highly-competitive weekend of racing at what is a crucial point in the BSB season.

Jon Kirkham

With two rounds – six races – remaining before the Championship switches to its Showdown phase – the final three rounds where only the top six riders can compete for the Championship – John Hopkins is second in the title standings. Although Hopkins lies 32 points adrift of the lead rider, only podium points carry forward to the Showdown, and in that category, Hopkins is only one point off the lead.

John Kirkham is currently seventh in the Championship, just 20 points outside the top six, but with a maximum potential of 150 points up for grabs, he could overcome this quite readily.

Jack Valentine, Team Manager:
“The team is really buzzing after the Silverstone weekend. Coming after two very successful tests it was another demonstration of our true potential. And as the BSB Championship gets closer to the final Showdown we’re again contenders for the title.

“Hopper’s clearly on top of his game. After qualifying fastest at Silverstone it was always going to be a tall order for him to back that up with a podium finish – the factory-backed WSB Superbikes have an edge on us on top speed – but again he showed his ability to take his bike to the very limit of its capability and bring home the high-scores.

“Earlier in testing here at Brands Hatch GP we found within his first half an hour on track Hopper was on BSB race pace. Importantly he says he loves this circuit. He’s having fun out there. For everyone else in the paddock that’s a dangerous mood for Hopper to be in.

“JK’s probably suffered a few rookie-blues this season; he’s had his fair share of misfortunes, but he’s still in the fight. JK’s on the edge of the Title Fighters top-six and with six races over the next two rounds he stands a very good chance of netting the points he needs to be in the running for the Showdown. He’ll remember he scored a strong fifth finish at Brands at the 2011 season opener, so he’ll be looking to get back to his top-six form over the weekend. All in all, we’re definitely looking forward to some strong performances this weekend.”