Halsall Kawasaki youngster Harry Hartley became the youngest-ever points scorer in MCE British Superbike history when he crossed the line in 13th during yesterday’s second race at Brands Hatch.

Hartley, who is only just 17, lined up in 17th place after his laptime in race one promoted him up ten places on the grid. After an early scrap with Michael Rutter, who is old enough to be his dad, Hartley got his head down and moved into 13th place behind team-mate Lee Costello, who had a tyre problem and slipped to 18th.

The teenager then inherited 12th but was pipped to the spot by Martin Jessopp on the Riders BMW across the line and had to settle for 13th place.

“This has been a brilliant weekend, I came here looking for two top 20 finishes so to come away with a 13th and my first ever BSB points is great, more than I could’ve hoped for. The first race went as I’d have expected but I’d have liked to have finished higher up, but I think the second more than made up for it,” said Hartley.

“I got stuck with a lot of bunch-up at the start which slowed me down and I had a big moment there on the last lap coming out of Graham Hill and it let Jessopp close right in so he was able to get me at the end. But all in all it’s been brilliant. It’s our local round next and this puts us in a great position to go out there and really challenge for points.”