Tommy Hill is in fighting form this weekend at Oulton Park as the fight for the British Superbikes Championship counts down into the final day of reckoning.
Saturday, in front of a huge 20,000+ crowd, Hill dramatically snatched pole position in qualifying and then took second place in the opening race of weekend. He now carries a 10-point advantage into the last two races of the championship.
The weekend had started slowly for Hill with lower leader board times in Friday's free practice sessions. But this morning, the Worx Crescent Suzuki team reverted to the set-up used on Hill's GSX-R1000 for the meeting held here in May, and Hill immediately jumped to second fastest in final free practice. In the three-stage Swan Roll for Pole qualifying, Hill dominated, setting fastest lap in each of the sessions.
Hill got a good start in the first race of the weekend but lost momentum when James Ellison lunged across him in the first turn. Consequently he was held up behind Ellison for the opening laps of the race, allowing Championship rival Ryuichi Kiyonari to close up and pass. When Kiyonari passed Ellison, Hill followed suit and the pair broke away from the pack. Despite setting the fastest lap of the race in his pursuit, Hill was unable to put a safe pass on the Japanese rider before the flag - finishing just 0.821-seconds behind.
Tommy Hill:
"I'm fairly happy with today, but it's not really good enough, we need to be at 100%. I rode my heart out and I really wanted to beat Kiyo, but it wasn't to be.
"So tomorrow's going to be a big day. I'm mindful that Josh Brookes will start from the second row in the first race and that might bring him into the frame, and as team-mate to Kiyo he'll be one to keep an eye on. But as it stands on lap times, Kiyo and I are a good two-tenths ahead of the rest, so my best tactic has to be getting a great start and clear out.
"It's a take no prisoners situation; all that's happened today has got the adrenaline running, if anything - if it was at all possible - I want the championship even more now!"
Jack Valentine - Team Manager:
"An exciting day! The important thing right now is to keep our head down and keep on with the pace. On his old settings Tommy's really comfortable with his bike and he's able to be really physical with it. He's got the fastest pace of anyone here. He just has to get the starts and get out in front.
"Tommy's team-mate Yukio Kagayama has had a steady weekend in terms of qualifying (12th) and race result (13th) but significantly he started today's race well and was a hurdle for Brookes to overcome in the early stages of the race, so he was a tactical help to Tommy today. Hopefully tomorrow, Yukio can get good starts and help again. We'll see.
"No question, though, it's all on for tomorrow. And with five points being the difference between first and second places - and ten points being the point's difference between Tommy and Kiyo - we're looking for wins to make the title ours."
MCE Insurance British Superbike Championship Round 12, Oulton Park:
Swan Combi Roll for Pole:
1. Tommy Hill (Worx Crescent Suzuki) 1m:35.236s 2. Ryuichi Kiyonari (HM Plant Honda) +0.064s 3. James Ellison (Swan Honda) +0.601s 4. Michael Laverty (Relentless Suzuki by TAS) +0.870s 5. Gary Mason (MSS Colchester Kawasaki) +0.938s 6. Stuart Easton (Swan Honda) +1.026s 7. Michael Rutter (Ridersmotorcycles.com Ducati) +1.323s 8. Tommy Bridewell (Tyco Quay Garage Honda) +1.359s 9. Josh Brookes (HM Plant Honda) +1.380s 10. John Laverty (Buildbase Kawasaki) +9.001s 12. Yukio Kagayama (Worx Crescent Suzuki) +1.675s
Race one:
1. Ryuichi Kiyonari (HM Plant Honda) 2. Tommy Hill (Worx Crescent Suzuki)+0.821s 3. James Ellison (Swan Honda) +5.707s 4. Michael Laverty (Relentless Suzuki by TAS) +8.459s 5. Josh Brookes (HM Plant Honda) +14.627s 6. Tommy Bridewell (Tyco Quay Garage Honda) +15.001s 7. Stuart Easton (Swan Honda) +16.839s 8. Gary Mason (MSS Colchester Kawasaki) +20.109s 9. John Laverty (Buildbase Kawasaki) +28.032s 10. Loris Baz (Motorpoint Yamaha) +32.829s 13. Yukio Kagayama (Worx Crescent Suzuki)+34.725s
Championship standings after Oulton Park race one:
1. Tommy Hill (Worx Crescent Suzuki) 609 2. Ryuichi Kiyonari (HM Plant Honda) 599 3. Josh Brookes (HM Plant Honda) 589 4. Michael Laverty (Relentless Suzuki by TAS) 583 5. Michael Rutter (Ridersmotorcycles.com Ducati) 546 6. Alastair Seeley (Relentless Suzuki by TAS) 530 15. Yukio Kagayama (Worx Crescent Suzuki) 84
