Hill leads Kiyonari during race one at Brands Hatch Indy.

Worx Crescent Suzuki’s Tommy Hill leads the MCE Insurance British Superbike Championship after the opening round at Brands Hatch’s Indy circuit, ending his day with a second place finish for his second podium of the day after winning race one.

Hill had taken the opening spoils over HM Plant Honda’s Ryuichi Kiyonari and Swan Honda’s James Ellison, but it was Ellison that got a flying start off the line in race two to lead the race. Hill shadowed his rival, desperate to make it a winning double at his home round but it wasn’t to be and he had to settle for second behind Ellison and in front of Relentless Suzuki rookie Alastair Seeley.

“That second race was great, hats off to James as he rode so well in that one and although I wanted to make a pass I just couldn’t,” Hill explained. “The Indy circuit is so hectic that sometimes you really have to make ‘do or die’ moves, so to take a second place is good for me and good for the Worx Crescent Suzuki team. Of course I wanted to beat James, but it wasn’t to be today but I am over the moon with two podiums. It is definitely the result we wanted – to come away from my home round at Brands Hatch leading the championship.”

Kiyonari suffered and electrical fault in race two, ruling him out of contention after leading much of the opening race.

HM Plant Honda’s Josh Brookes was left disappointed after the second BSB race of the day at Brands Hatch this afternoon after crashing out whilst running in third.

Brookes had finished fifth in race one and after setting the fastest lap was keen to take advantage of his pole position start for race two. Brookes had got off the line in second on the opening lap, before he was passed by Tommy Hill and nudged back to third. He looked set to make an attack back on the Worx Crescent Suzuki rider but he lost the front at Druids, crashing out of contention.

“Today hasn’t been the best for me. In race one I thought I had a bit more to play with, but when I wanted to push I couldn’t and then I needed to try and figure out why. I know that I can do fast laps, but I needed to do them all of the way through the race,” the Australian said.

“I was happy to be starting from pole in the second race after setting the fastest lap time in race one but I didn’t get the start I wanted. Tommy passed me and then that was okay, as I thought I could have a go back, but I had a few moments. At Druids I tried too hard, it’s as simple as that. I went in too hot and just lost the front. It has not all been bad though as we have learnt a lot about the HM Plant Honda and I am already in a better position than I was this time last year.”

Brookes had earlier finished fifth in the opening race of the day.

GNS Racing Honda’s Sam Lowes won the Supersport race, while Australians Billy McConnell and Jason O’Halloran finished third and fourth respectively.

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