After one of the most dramatic weekends of the year, the Gloucester-based Smiths Triumph Racing Team duly wrapped up their second Motorpoint British Supersport Championship win in three years when Australian ace Billy McConnell secured the title at Brands Hatch.
The Aussie, from Adelaide, brought the factory-backed Triumph Daytona 675R home in eighth place to secure sufficient points ahead of Yamaha rival Alastair Seeley but there was heartbreak for Smiths team-mate Graeme Gowland when the Hexham, Northumberland rider crashed out of today's race on the very first lap, meaning his title hopes were over and he could only finish third in the title race.
It wasn't straight forward as the Smiths duo suffered mixed fortunes all weekend, none more so than in Saturday's qualifying session with Gowland taking eighth and McConnell way back on the eighth row after falling early on. Both riders put in sterling in performances in the afternoon's Sprint race though with Graeme taking sixth place and Billy riding heroically into ninth which meant he retained his title lead and only lost three points to his team-mate. However, with Alastair Seeley finishing in second, there was now just 21 points splitting the leading trio going into the final race.
Starting from positions seventh and tenth on the grid for the Feature race, both riders made good starts, particularly Graeme, but his challenge ended almost before it began as he cruelly crashed out at Druids on the opening lap. With Seeley leading the race, Billy still had to ensure he finished no lower than 11th and keeping a close eye on his pit board he did all he needed to do and crossed the line in eighth place to finally get his hands on the number one plate.
Billy McConnell: "It's been a stressful last couple of rounds but to finally win the British Championship is brilliant and I was crying my eyes out on that final lap! I've come so close in recent years and it's probably why my results haven't been the greatest in the final races as I wanted it so bad. With Graeme going out early, it took the pressure off my shoulders but it was probably one of the longest races of my life and I just brought the bike home. I've got a fantastic team behind me and we've been consistent over the 12 rounds whilst I've had a fantastic team-mate pushing me all year so I feel for Graeme. It's a shame he went out early and that little bit of extra luck that you need was on my side this weekend. I've been in the top three for the last five years so to win at last is amazing and very emotional."
Graeme Gowland: "After Saturday's race, I had to go out on Sunday and give it a go and I couldn't have asked for a better start. I was aggressive off the line and into the first corner but going into Druids, everyone braked a little bit earlier than I expected and I was down before I knew it. I'm absolutely gutted to have my season end in this way, especially as I also lost second overall, but at least the Smiths Triumph team won. They deserve it more than anyone else for all the hard work and effort they've put in and well done to Billy for getting the job done. Riding as team-mate to Billy and battling with both him and Alastair all year long has been a pleasure so I'll be looking to bounce back and give it another go in 2015."
Rebecca Smith: "We never wanted it to come down to the final round but the way the season's been, we kind of knew it was always going to and it was certainly nail-biting! We've had two riders in the team this year who were both worthy of being crowned champion and I'm gutted for Graeme that his year finished on a bit of a low. The season's been a long one and it ultimately came down to DNFs. Graeme had a few more than the others whilst Billy was the most consistent all year long and thoroughly deserved his title. We've had an indescribable 2014 season with two amazing riders and to be crowned British Champions again is amazing. I'm literally lost for the words so a big, big thank you to everyone in the team for all their hard work this season."
Motorpoint British Supersport Championship - race 1 (10 laps)1 Glenn Irwin (Kawasaki)2 Alastair Seeley (Yamaha)3 Luke Jones (Triumph)4 Luke Hedger (Kawasaki)5 Taylor Mackenzie (Suzuki)6 Graeme Gowland (Smiths Triumph)9 Billy McConnell (Smiths Triumph)Motorpoint British Supersport Championship - race 2 (18 laps)1 Alastair Seeley (Yamaha)2 Glenn Irwin (Kawasaki)3 Luke Jones (Triumph)4 Jake Dixon (Yamaha)5 Luke Stapleford (Triumph)6 Luke Hedger (Kawasaki)8 Billy McConnell (Smiths Triumph)DNF Graeme Gowland (Smiths Triumph)Final Championship points (after 12 rounds)1 McConnell 364pts2 Seeley 3603 Gowland 3414 Irwin 3155 Jones 2796 Stapleford 262
