The final round of the Metzeler National 600cc and 1000cc Superstock Championships ended in disappointment for AP Kawasaki at Brands Hatch at the weekend with both Freddie Russo and Leon Hunt unable to add any points to their championship totals. Third team member Michael Booth was unable to ride due to the injuries he sustained at the previous round at Silverstone.

After taking a good seventh place in qualifying, Russo was up to sixth on lap two of the Superstock 600cc race only for a five-rider pile-up to bring out the pace car and eventually the red flag. Re-started over just six laps, Freddie made a solid start and swept through the first corner in seventh place but that would be as good as it got for the Brentford rider as, just two corners later, he was taken out by another rider at Surtees, a disappointing end to what had looked like being a good weekend. Uninjured in the fall, it meant he ended the year in eighth place overall in the championship table.

There was further disappointment for the team in the Superstock 1000cc category when a crash on the start and finish straight brought out the red flag on just the second lap. Brighton rider Hunt, who had been fastest in the damp morning warm-up session, was in 11th place at the time and looking good for a top ten finish but outside factors prevented him from getting a good result.

Freddie Russo: "I didn't do myself any favours this weekend with a poor qualifying performance but I still felt good coming into the race having finished second here earlier in the year. We had the pace to get a good result but some desperate riding by another rider put paid to that. I've no idea what he was thinking as there was no room at all for a pass, there couldn't have been more than a foot between myself and the inside kerb, yet he still came flying up the inside and knocked me clean off. I trust all the riders on the grid but this was just plain stupid and whilst I was settling into the race, it was just a desperate move and it totally ruined our weekend."

Leon Hunt: "I had a few problems in practice and qualifying with the gearbox but I felt like I was riding well and morning warm up in the damp confirmed that. The bike was 100% for the race and although I made a poor start, I put in some good passes on the first lap to be on the edge of the top ten so it was all looking good. I felt confident but the crashes and red flag ended our chances so it wasn't a good way to end the season but I hope all the riders involved are ok."

Alan Greig: "It's certainly not the way we would have liked to have ended the year but it's been up and down throughout and plenty for us to build on. Michael was unable to ride due to the injuries picked up at Silverstone and  once again, Leon qualified well only for something totally out of his control to prevent him from getting the good result he deserved. Freddie was taken out by a ridiculous overtaking manoeuvre so it hasn't been a good weekend.

"It's all about 2012 now though and making plans for next year. It's exciting times for us regarding the riders and level of support we expect to have so we're looking forward to getting it all finalised and hopefully, all announced at the NEC in November. I'd like to take this opportunity to thank all the team for their hard work and commitment, the riders for all their efforts and to all the sponsors as without their support, we wouldn't be competing at this level and in this arena."

Metzeler National Superstock 600cc Championship (6 laps)

1 Glenn Irwin (Kawasaki) 9m23.228s2 Ben Burke (Yamaha) +2.874s3 Deane Brown (Yamaha) +3.164s4 James East (Yamaha) +3.222s5 Bjorn Estment (Yamaha) +5.976s6 Andrew Reid (Suzuki) +6.177s7 Connor Behan (Kawasaki) +6.224s8 Cody Nally (Kawasaki) +6.483s9 Niall Campbell (Yamaha) +13.883s10 Tom Fisher (Kawasaki) +15.019sDNF Freddie Russo (AP Kawasaki)

Metzeler Superstock 600cc Final Championship positions (after 12 rounds)

1 Farmer 202 pts2 Irwin 1543 Behan 1284 Brown 1275 Burke 1086 East 1058 Russo 95

Metzeler Superstock 1000cc Final Championship Positions (after 12 rounds)

1 Cooper 190.5 pts2 Buchan 1443 Quigley 1304 Palmer 1165 Mainwaring 1046 Jenkinson 93.515 Booth 2821 Hunt 13