Dan Linfoot is celebrating after clinching the 2023 National Superstock Championship, a long-awaited first major title for one of the BSB paddock's most experienced riders.

The 35-year old wrapped things up during the final race of the season at Brands Hatch, Linfoot making success a formality with an emphatic ninth victory of the season.

It was a fitting way to end a campaign in a year that saw no other rider win more than two races and while Richard Kerr was able to force a final race showdown for the title, Linfoot wasn't headed from round two onwards.

Though a touch of cautious superstition almost robbed him of a chance to enjoy taking the flag as the new champion on the Optimum Bikes Honda CBR1000RR-R, Linfoot was delighted to end a highlight season in style.

“I didn’t see the chequered flag!” he told the BSB website. “On the last lap there, I came over the line, I saw the champion board thought ‘okay it’s over but when I came across the start-finish I didn’t see the chequered. I thought ‘I’m not sitting up now to lose it so I’ll just do an extra one just in case.

“It was a strange way to win the championship but I knew I had to go out and win the race today. I wanted to win the championship the way it should be won, not worry about the points situation and just go out and win the race.”

Linfoot's success comes in his first season competing at National SSTK level having made the step away from the British Superbike class he's largely focused on since 2009.