Samsung Crescent Racing Suzuki's John Hopkins doubled up on victories at Donington Park yesterday in the first races of the Showdown, but whilst the American celebrated ahead of title rival Tommy Hill it was a disastrous race for Shane 'Shakey' Byrne and Michael Laverty.
Hopkins said: "It's extremely special for me to win both races on a day of remembrance back home in America. It was a shame to see Shakey and Michael crash out but that is racing. I got out there and had the pace to really put the hammer down. I passed early in the race but that one was more painful than the first but we come away from here with the lead and that is what we needed."
The second race of the Showdown started in dramatic style on the opening lap as Laverty went for the inside line into Redgate for the first time and collided with Byrne as the pair ended in the gravel. The pair frantically picked up their bikes and rejoined the race, but around half a lap down they then had a massive task to close the gap and score vital points for their title bid.
Hill had led on the run to Craner Curves from Ryuichi Kiyonari and Hopkins as the trio, avoided the Title Fighter clash ahead of them. Hopkins was instantly on the attack and he made a move down the inside at the Melbourne Loop to move second behind the Swan Yamaha rider.
Hill held the lead until the fifth lap when Hopkins carved ahead at the Fogarty Esses and despite Hill's best efforts he was unable to regain the lead. The Swan Yamaha rider was forced to settle for second and in doing so lost his lead in the championship to the Samsung Crescent Racing Suzuki rider by three points ahead of the penultimate round at Silverstone.
Kiyonari was running third until the eleventh lap when Jon Kirkham forced his way through at the Old Hairpin, with the defending champion then losing another place to Josh Brookes at the Fogarty Esses. Martin Jessopp on the lone Rapid Solicitors-Bathams Ducati then also passed the HM Plant Honda rider on the same lap at the Melbourne Hairpin.
Kirkham then consolidated his third place and his second podium finish of the season but the battle for fourth was a paint-swapping affair between Jessopp and Brookes, with the Rapid Solicitors-Bathams Ducati rider securing his best finish of the season. Kiyonari had to settle for sixth ahead of James Ellison on the Sorrymate.com Honda and an impressive ride from Byrne put him eighth. Chris Walker and Graeme Gowland rounded out the top ten with Laverty finishing 14th.
MCE Insurance British Superbike Championship, Donington Park, race two result: 1.John Hopkins (Samsung Crescent Racing Suzuki)2.Tommy Hill (Swan Yamaha) +1.986s3.Jon Kirkham (Samsung Crescent Racing Suzuki) +3.315s4.Martin Jessopp (Rapid Solicitors-Bathams Ducati) +5.978s5.Josh Brookes (Relentless Suzuki by TAS) +8.324s6.Ryuichi Kiyonari (HM Plant Honda) +12.236s7.James Ellison (Sorrymate.com Honda) +12.541s8.Shane Byrne (HM Plant Honda) +22.445s9.Chris Walker (Pr1mo Racing Kawasaki) +16.308s10.Graeme Gowland (WFR Honda) +26.746sMCE Insurance British Superbike Championship standings after Donington Park: 1.John Hopkins (Samsung Crescent Racing Suzuki) 5682.Tommy Hill (Swan Yamaha) 5653.Shane Byrne (HM Plant Honda) 5434.Michael Laverty (Swan Yamaha) 5325.Josh Brookes (Relentless Suzuki by TAS) 5306.Ryuichi Kiyonari (HM Plant Honda) 518 Silverstone hosts the next round of the Showdown for the 2011 MCE Insurance British Superbike Championship on 23-25 Sept. For more information and ticket details go to silverstone.co.uk or call 08704 588260.
