Double British champions Smiths Racing wrapped up their 2015 British Championship season in successful style at Brands Hatch this weekend whereby Jake Dixon scored a double podium to secure third place overall in the Motorpoint British Supersport Championship.
With rival Glenn Irwin going out early in yesterday's Sprint race, Jake was in an ideal place to capitalise and he did exactly that by not only taking second place in the race, which was stopped early due to light rain, but also reclaiming third in the title race aboard the factory-supported Smiths Racing Triumph Daytona 675R. And with another rival Kyle Ryde finishing back in fifth, it also meant the Dover rider closed to within 14 points of second place overall.
A great start to today's 18-lap 'Feature' race saw Jake immediately jump up to second place at the completion of the first lap although 2015 champion Luke Stapleford soon disappeared into the distance. It left Jake as part of a seven rider dice for the runner-up spot for the next few laps, although the podium positions were ultimately fought out between himself and Glenn Irwin.
The duo swapped positions regularly, but in the closing laps, the 19-year-old was able to see off the challenge of Irwin and secure his second successive second place finish. It gave him his 14th podium of a highly successful season and although Ryde just held onto second in the final championship standings, Jake gave the Gloucester-based team an excellent third place overall.
Meanwhile, Smiths BMW team-mate Billy McConnell qualified in an excellent tenth place for yesterday's opening MCE Insurance British Superbike Championship race, but as the race progressed, the 28-year-old Australian slipped back down the order but was still able to claim another championship point in 15th place. Today's opening race of the triple-header weekend saw him forced to retire at three-quarter race distance but any hopes of rounding off the season in style were dashed when a gearbox problem forced him out on the sighting lap of the third race to end what in general has been a decent season in MCE BSB for the outgoing British Supersport champion.
Jake Dixon: "I felt really comfortable in yesterday's race, but I got duffed up a bit in the early stages and that allowed Luke to get away whilst I also had a few slides due to slight set-up issues so we addressed those in time for today's longer race. Today was just simply a mega race to be part of and I don't think I've ever had to ride as hard to win a race, never mind finish second. Luke rode an amazing race as he has done all season, but we got third overall so a massive thank you to all my sponsors and the Smiths Racing team who've done an awesome job all year and given me a fantastic opportunity. It's a shame I had a bit of a lull during the middle of the season, but we've finished really strong."
Billy McConnell: "It's been a frustrating weekend for the team and myself and we wanted to end on a high but sadly it didn't pan out that way. The weather at the beginning of the weekend put us on the back foot and so we tried some new settings for the first race which took us in the wrong direction unfortunately. We then had gearbox issues in the last two races so it wasn't at all the way I wanted my time with the team to finish but we'll all have a drink tonight."
Rebecca Smith, Team Manager: "It's disappointing for Billy that his four years with us have ended with two DNFs and it's not at all how any of us wanted it to end. We've had a great relationship and have parted on amicable terms and for the right reasons, so we wish him all the best. For Jake, it's been a strong weekend and a strong end to the season so third place overall is a good way to finish."
Motorpoint British Supersport Championship Race One (10 laps)1 Luke Stapleford (Triumph)2 Jake Dixon (Smiths Racing Triumph)3 Sam Hornsey (Triumph)4 James Rispoli (Yamaha)5 Kyle Ryde (Yamaha)6 Joe Francis (Yamaha)
Motorpoint British Supersport Championship Race Two (18 laps)1 Luke Stapleford (Triumph)2 Jake Dixon (Smiths Racing Triumph)3 Glenn Irwin (Kawasaki)4 Kyle Ryde (Yamaha)5 Ben Wilson (Kawasaki)6 James Rispoli (Yamaha)
Final Championship Points1 Stapleford 471pts2 Ryde 3443 Dixon 3374 Irwin 3205 Rispoli 2566 Wilson 185
MCE British Superbike Championship Race One - 20 laps1 Josh Brookes (Yamaha)2 Shane Byrne (Kawasaki)3 John Hopkins (Ducati)4 Christian Iddon (Suzuki)5 Lee Jackson (BMW)6 James Ellison (Kawasaki)15 Billy McConnell (Smiths Racing BMW)
MCE British Superbike Championship Race Two - 20 laps1 Josh Brookes (Yamaha)2 Shane Byrne (Kawasaki)3 Michael Laverty (BMW)4 John Hopkins (Ducati)5 James Ellison (Kawasaki)6 Lee Jackson (BMW)DNF Billy McConnell (Smiths Racing BMW)
MCE British Superbike Championship Race Three - 20 laps1 Michael Laverty (BMW)2 James Ellison (Kawasaki)3 Shane Byrne (Kawasaki)4 Dan Linfoot (Honda)5 Christian Iddon (Suzuki)6 Luke Mossey (Kawasaki)DNF Billy McConnell (Smiths Racing BMW)
Final Championship Points1 Brookes 703pts 2 Byrne 6623 Ellison 6144 Laverty 6015 Linfoot 5566 Bridewell 54515 McConnell 98
