Swan Yamaha's Tommy Hill clinched the 2011 British Superbike crown at Brands Hatch this afternoon by 0.006s and two points after a nail-biting final lap where he and rival John Hopkins changed places five times.
The Lingfield man took third from Hopkins with three laps to go and then moved into second when he passed Sorrymate.com Honda's James Ellison but Hopkins was through after him with two laps remaining as HM Plant Honda's Shane Byrne extended his lead to five seconds.
As the pair changed places into Surtees on the last lap, Hopkins was up the inside on the brakes but Hill was having none of it as the Samsung Suzuki man ran wide and Hill went up the inside on the power. There was some more swapping of paint as they ran out to the back of circuit but Hill just had the legs crossing the line with 0.006s to spare.
“Magic, absolutely unbelievable – I didn’t know that I had beaten him until I saw the reaction of the crowd. Winning the title means everything to me – that last lap was amazing, it was BSB wanted and I gave it to them. I just got into the rhythm and rode as hard as I could so to come out on top like this is just so special," said Hill.
“I’m gobsmacked. I’ve tried to stay as relaxed as possible since receiving the trophy. The season puts a lot of pressure and that reflects on everyone. It was just a shock that a whole season can come down to that. I wanted it badly and it was do or die. Hats off to him, he won. There was nothing more that I could have done.”
Hill's teammate Michael Laverty was embroiled in his own private battle for fifth in the race with Josh Brookes and the Toomebridge man was just able to re-pass the Aussie. Michael Rutter took seventh, Graeme Gowland was the first Evo man home in eighth, Peter Hickman took ninth and James Westmoreland tenth.
Buildbase BMW's Barry Burrell was the second Evo rider across the line in 14th overall with Scott Smart's Moto Rapido Ducati pipping Patric Muff for third place.
