British Superbike
The 2011 British Superbike Championship got off to a flying start for the Swan Yamaha team in Brands Hatch as Tommy Hill took his first victory in race two and a second in race one to take the championship lead ahead of round two in Oulton park.
Hill put on a sensational performance aboard the Swan Yamaha YZF-R1 in race two holding off advances from race one winner Byrne and current champion Kiyonari to take the chequered flag and his first victory of the 2011 British Superbike season.
The opening BSB race of the day was dramatic for team-mate Michael Laverty. In an accident packed race one Laverty was unfortunate and suffered a highside on lap 11 while in the lead, causing him to crash out.
Hill just behind him, had to take evasive action to avoid collision and initially dropped back to 11th before fighting back and completing the race in an impressive second place.
Recovering from his race one accident Laverty put on a solid performance in race two and finished in fourth place setting the fastest race lap along the way.
Hill heads to Oulton Park for round two of the British Superbike Championship in top of the 2011 standings with 45 points, 4 points ahead of Byre in second. Laverty sits in eighth position with 13 points.
In British Supersport Yamaha R6 rider Jack Kennedy (Colin Appleyard/Macadam Racing) scored a third and second place, leaving Brands in second place overall, only 2 points behind leader Ben Wilson.
2011 British Superbike Points (After 1 of 12 rounds)
- Tommy Hill (Swan Yamaha) 45
- Shane Byrne (HM Plant Honda) 41
- Stuart Easton (MSS Colchester Kawasaki) 23
- Ryuichi Kiyonari (HM Plant Honda) 20
- Michael Rutter (Rapid Solicitors-Bathams Ducati) 19
- Tommy Bridewell (Tyco Honda) 16