Swan Yamaha's Tommy Hill once again showed his mastery of the Oulton Park circuit this afternoon, sweeping to his second MCE British Superbike race win of the weekend, crossing the line almost five seconds ahead of Josh Brookes in second place.
Hill took the race-one win yesterday in grand style and put in the same performance in the first race of two today, getting his head down from the start and lap half-a-second faster than the pack.
Tyco Suzuki's Brookes could do nothing about the pace of the Surrey man but was well clear of the battle for the final podium spot which came alive with four laps to go. Noriyuki Haga, on the second Swan R1, looked to have a comfortable lead over Michael Laverty and Shane Byrne but with the laps left, Byrne went under Laverty through Cascades after Haga made a big error at Old Hall, diverting the Irishman's attention.
Byrne then dived under Haga for third and Laverty then demoted the Japanese rider on the penultimate lap, going underneath him at Old Hall. Laverty didn't have an answer for Byrne's pace, however, and followed him across the line for fourth.
Padgett's Honda's Ian Lowry got the better of Tommy Bridewell for sixth place and just holds on to his Showdown place but is now on equal points with Haga but stays ahead as he has won a race this year. Alastair Seeley and Alex Lowes were also in the mix for sixth but had to settle for eighth and ninth. Graeme Gowland rounded out the top ten.
James Westmoreland was 11th, Chris Walker 12th, Peter Hickman 13th and Scott Smart chased Patric Muff for 14th but just couldn't catch the Swiss Supersonic BMW man.
Grid for race three
Brookes (pole), Hill, Laverty, Haga
Byrne, Lowry, Seeley, Lowes
