Gloucester-based Smiths Racing enjoyed one of their best weekends so far at round six of the 2015 MCE British Superbike Championship with Billy McConnell taking a pair of top ten finishes at Brands Hatch today including a best of sixth place which saw him move up to tenth overall in the championship table.

Having qualified the Smiths BMW in a disappointing 24th place, the Australian had a superb ride in the opening 20 lap race and steadily moved his way through the field. Lapping half a second quicker than what he had done in qualifying, the reigning British Supersport Champion was up into the points by half race distance and he continued to pick off riders in front of him to eventually be rewarded with a fine ninth place finish.

The result meant he started the second race from the more advanced position of row three in ninth place meaning he was keen to capitalise on it. He did just that and although he was under pressure throughout from Luke Mossey, exchanging places on a number of occasions, he was ahead when it mattered most and crossed the line in an excellent sixth place.

For Motorpoint British Supersport Championship team-mate Jake Dixon, it was a mixed meeting with his weekend starting on a low note after a high speed crash in qualifying at Westfield. With further damage to his already injured elbow, the Folkestone rider bravely started Saturday's 'Sprint' race and was holding onto a strong fifth place when he unfortunately crashed again, this time at Druids, on the ninth lap.

Undeterred, he was back on the grid aboard the factory-backed Smiths Triumph Daytona 675R for today's 18-lap 'Feature' race and a good start saw him end the opening lap in a strong fourth place. A lap later, he'd been pushed back to sixth and although the battle for fifth went all the way to the chequered flag, Jake had to settle for sixth place and despite yesterday's spill; he remains in fourth overall in the championship table.

There was disappointment for third team member, David Johnson, as the Australian was forced to retire from the Pirelli National Superstock 1000 Championship race after experiencing a technical problem on the fifth lap that caused him to run onto the grass at Surtees aboard the Smiths BMW.

Billy McConnell: "I've got to say a big thanks to all the team and my friends and family for sticking behind me this weekend as I arrived at Brands Hatch down on confidence and self-belief. I sent the team down the garden path a bit with set-up and we went round in circles, eventually going back to what we had here earlier in the year. With the familiar settings, I was able to give race one a real good go and to come from so far back on the grid to ninth in this standard of competition felt really good. It put me on a high for race two and I was able to make my start position count. Troy Corser has been helping me this weekend and we're going to try some more suspension settings between now and the next round and just keep chipping away."

Image removed by sender.Jake Dixon: "I struggled a bit this weekend with set-up and with my elbow already sore from Knockhill, I didn't help the situation with the two crashes yesterday. The team did a great job, as always, and although sixth isn't where I want to be, it was good to get a finish under my belt. My injured team-mate Graeme Gowland was a great help this weekend and we'll look to get me feeling more comfortable on the bike in a test session before the next round."

Rebecca Smith, Team Manager: "If you'd have spoken to me last night, my reaction would have been a lot different but race day today was a lot more rewarding and a lot closer to where we want to be. It was a tough start to the weekend and Billy was struggling a lot with his confidence and set-up with the bike and drastic changes hadn't helped. He knew it was down to him and dug really deep so to do what he did on race day was incredible and I'm so, so happy for him as he works so hard. Jake was again struggling with getting the bike to feel comfortable and do what he wanted it to do and with Graeme here he was at least able to get a bit more of a direction. He reverted back to what he knew and after the two crashes yesterday, it was nice to get a top six finish. We've a test planned for next week with the aim of getting Jake in a comfortable place and back to his best."

MCE Insurance British Superbike Championship - Race One (20 laps)1 Josh Brookes (Yamaha)2 Richard Cooper (Kawasaki)3 James Ellison (Kawasaki)4 Tommy Bridewell (BMW)5 Michael Laverty (BMW)6 John Hopkins (Ducati)9 Billy McConnell (Smiths Racing BMW)

MCE Insurance British Superbike Championship - Race Two (20 laps)1 Josh Brookes (Yamaha)2 Shane Byrne (Kawasaki)3 Richard Cooper (Kawasaki)4 James Ellison (Kawasaki)5 Michael Laverty (BMW)6 Billy McConnell (Smiths Racing BMW)

Championship Positions (after six rounds)1 Byrne 221pts2 Brookes 2163 Ellison 1474 Easton 1395 O'Halloran 1036 Bridewell 9910 McConnell 53

Motorpoint British Supersport Championship - Race One (12 laps)1 Luke Stapleford (Triumph)2 Kyle Ryde (Yamaha)3 Andrew Reid (Yamaha)4 James Rispoli (Yamaha)5 Sam Hornsey (Triumph)6 Luke Hedger (Kawasaki)DNF Jake Dixon (Smiths Racing Triumph)

Motorpoint British Supersport Championship - Race Two (18 laps)1 Luke Stapleford (Triumph)2 Kyle Ryde (Yamaha)3 Andrew Reid (Yamaha)4 James Rispoli (Yamaha)5 Sam Hornsey (Triumph)6 Jake Dixon (Smiths Racing Triumph)

Championship standings (after six rounds)1 Stapleford 219pts2 Ryde 2113 Irwin 1804 Dixon 1405 Rispoli 1006 Reid 99