NEWS

KNOCKHILL BSB: HILL 'LUCKY' TO FINISH RACE ONE

05/07/2010

Hill tries to fight off the attentions of Michael Laverty as his tyre shredded

By David Miller
Image by Double Red

Worx Suzuki's Tommy Hill reckons he was lucky to finish the rain-interrupted first British Superbike race at Knockhill yesterday after his rear wet tyre fell to bits over the 15-lapper on a drying track.

The Lingfield man was visibly hunting for grip, even along the start/finish straight, and he crossed the line at the exact same time as MSS Colchester Kawasaki's Gary Mason - it was so close the timekeepers could not split them for eighth. The position meant Hill lost his lead to Josh Brookes, who heads the series by four points.

"That was a disappointing end to the weekend after what had been a good build-up. In the first race I had a big issue with the treaded rear tyre which ripped to pieces over the 15 laps of the race – I was lucky to bring it home. I don't mind the rain and have scored good results in wet races in the past, so this was a major disappointment," said Hill.

"With that result I've also now lost my championship lead, although I'm only four points behind. I'm still leading the podium points tally, though, which are the only ones that count once the championship moves into the Showdown phase from Croft (round ten) onwards.

"So I'm keen to get to Snetterton and claw those points back and add further to those vital podium points. And that's a good track for me as I scored Pirelli's first ever podium in BSB there, back in 2006."